#LGRHoops: Joves power Autogard for a nailbiting Novice title over Royal MNL

CW-Autogard pulled off one of the most thrilling comebacks in the seventh season of LGR Hoops, edging close favorite Royal Manila, 85-83 to clinch the Novice division crown last Saturday, June 22 at the FilOil FlyingV Centre in San Juan.

It was a see-saw battle in which neither side lead by more than nine points, as the first title game of the weekend went down the wire between two stacked ball clubs.

It was at the second period when Royal MNL posted a 36-27 en route to a six-point lead at the half, after trailing by seven at the end of the opening frame.

Johdel Joves saved the best for the fourth and final frame to take the Finals MVP honors, scoring 13 of his game-high 32 points in the final ten minutes including nine in a row that gave them an 81-77 lead that they almost lost in the dying seconds.

The lefty let his shots fall during the game, shooting 67% from the field while hitting 12/14 from the foul line.

Joves then added 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals in more than 31 min for a PER of 37.91, amounting to 49.5 statistical points.

Maiko Buxani’s 29 points went down the drain after losing their lead that they established during the middle periods, as their last-second heave by Joshua San Juan missed to give Autogard the title.

The scores:

CW-Autogard 85 -- Joves 32, Pineda 10, Sy 10, H. Tiu 8, R. Tiu 5, Dela Rosa 6, Li 5, Capistrano 3, Go 3, Ladia 2, De Barbo 0, Guiab 0, Riva 0, Lua 0

Royal Manila 83 -- Buxani 29, J. San Juan 13, Haughton 9, Serrano 7, Torrecampo 7, Casulla 5, Guteza 4, Ricafranca 4, Santos 2, Valderrama 2, D. San Juan 1, Barrios 0, Mariano 0, Singh 0

Quarter scores: 20-13, 37-43, 60-64, 85-83

(photo by LGR Hoops)

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