Quick Read
- Camsur Express secured their first-ever NBL-Pilipinas finals appearance after a comeback win against Taguig Generals.
- Medwin Ariate hit the game-winning three-pointer with 0.2 seconds left to seal the 89-88 victory.
- The best-of-five finals series against Tikas Kampampangan begins this Friday at Pampanga State University Gym.
SAN FERNANDO (Azat TV) – The Camsur Express secured a milestone victory on Sunday, defeating the Taguig Generals to advance to the National Basketball League-Pilipinas (NBL) President’s Cup finals. The dramatic win at the Far Eastern University gym in San Fernando, Pampanga, marked the team’s first-ever finals appearance since their entry into the league as a pioneer franchise in 2018.
Camsur Express overcomes late-game deficit
The knockout semifinal showdown remained tightly contested until the final minutes. Trailing 87-80 with just 1:13 remaining on the clock, the Express mounted a late-game surge that stunned the Generals. Verman Magpantay ignited the comeback with a crucial lay-up, followed by a successful free throw that narrowed the gap. Defensive pressure from the Express forced critical turnovers, allowing Jerome Almario to tie the game with two free throws with 18.7 seconds left. Although Taguig’s Noy Pragoso reclaimed the lead with a dunk, Medwin Ariate delivered the decisive blow, draining a three-pointer with only 0.2 seconds remaining to finalize the 88-89 victory, as reported by Spin.ph.
NBL-Pilipinas finals schedule and opponents
Following this hard-fought win, the Express are now slated to face the Governors’ Cup titlist, Tikas Kampampangan. The upcoming best-of-five finals series is scheduled to commence on Friday at the Pampanga State University Gym in Bacolor. Tikas Kampampangan earned their spot in the championship round after a dominant sweep of the Zambales Constructicons in their own best-of-three semifinal series.
Key contributors in the semifinal series
The victory for Camsur was anchored by high-impact individual performances. Jerome Almario led the team in scoring with 23 points, while Verman Magpantay contributed 20 points. Additionally, Jabonete provided a significant presence in the paint, recording a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds. The team’s ability to limit the Generals to a single field goal in the final three minutes proved to be the ultimate difference-maker in the contest.
The strategic shift toward defensive intensity in the final two minutes of play provided the necessary margin for Camsur Express to overcome a late-game deficit, proving that their transition from league pioneers to championship contenders is now fully realized.