Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
RYAN GARCIA scored the game-winning basket to send D'Barkadz into the final of the Low San Basketball Tournament on Wednesday.
The veteran Filipino guard raced down the floor to finish a layup and knocked down the ensuing freethrow with nine seconds left to help his side edge Autocare 83-81.
The victory sets them up against Wan Sing in the title decider on Saturday.
Garcia eventually finished the game with a team-high of 23 points at the BBA Court in Batu Bersurat.
Jomarie Corpuz, despite facing a box-one defence throughout the 40 minutes, still managed 22 points.
Patrick Rubillar added 18 points before going down in the fourth period at the BBA Court in Batu Bersurat.
On the other hand, Esmond Tan did all he could for a game-high of 28 points before fouling out late in the game.
Lim Liang Wei contributed 21 while the pair of Chris Chiew and Ahmad Termizi Hj Noordeen added 12 and 10 respectively in the heartbreaker.
The game was neck and neck right from tip off with neither able to create a gap on the scoreboard.
D'Barkadz stuck their noses in front at the interval after a 7-0 run before a freethrow by Chiew put the scores at 41-36.
D'Barkadz pulled ahead by nine points midway through the third - the largest of the game.
However, Autocare used an 8-0 to cut the deficit to a point.
A long inbounds pass saw Chiew finish a layup to see D'Barkadz up 63-61 going into the decisive frame.
It was a see-saw battle throughout the final 10 minutes leading to a nail-biting finish.
Lim scored under the basket with a foul but failed to make the freethrow to make it 79-77 under three minutes to play.
He was fouled again the next possession but missed both.
Tan was put at the line with 51 seconds go but split his freethrows to open up an 80-77 lead.
He then fouled out at the other end sending Gabriel Co to the line.
Co missed the first but knocked down the second to make it a two-point game.
Autocare called a timeout and took it to the front court.
However, things didn't go as planned as they turned the ball over.
Corpuz then scored at the other end with a foul.
He missed from the line and it led to Khoo getting fouled.
The latter missed the first before getting the second leading to the heroics of Garcia.
Autocare called the timeout before the foul shot was made meaning they couldn't move the ball to the front court.
They had a chance to go for the tie but Mizi's drive to the hoop and dish under the basket was fumbled out by Lim sending D'Barkadz to the final.
