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Ajman-based Gulf Craft overcame Metro Manila Bar Trojans 84-82 to lift the PBBL-Western Union Cup Season 5 trophy at the Asma Bint Al Nouman Gym.

Gulf Craft started strong and led by eight points, 17-9, at the end of the first quarter and then pushed the ball harder in the second period to lead by 11 points, 30-19.

The Trojans, however, counter-attacked and closed the gap to three before the break. At the start of the third quarter Gulf Craft regained the double-digit lead, 42-31, courtesy of a run-and-gun play by JR Villegas, Wilbert Sayson and Ron Sanchez.

But Trojans again cut the deficit to single digit, 55-51, going into the final quarter. Lee Boliver led the Trojans’ rally in the fourth quarter and the momentum shifted to their side with a four-point lead, 75-71, with only three minutes left.

Skipper Archie Cruz, who had struggled in the first half from the three-point arc, finally found his range and delivered the winning basket in the dying seconds of the game.

Cruz said: “before I took the shot I looked at my coach and he gave me the nod to take it. I was confident I could deliver the winning shot.

“Our players showed a lot of courage and they were really very hungry to win the Cup,” Gulf Craft team manager Ramon Diaz told Sport360°.

 

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