{"id":1013,"date":"2024-04-10T06:59:41","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T06:59:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pinoystep.com\/?p=1013"},"modified":"2024-04-10T06:59:42","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T06:59:42","slug":"banged-up-depleted-capitals-survive-titans-behind-bitoons-explosion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pinoystep.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/10\/banged-up-depleted-capitals-survive-titans-behind-bitoons-explosion\/","title":{"rendered":"Banged up, depleted Capitals survive Titans behind Bitoon’s explosion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PALAYAN, NUEVA ECIJA — Nueva Ecija flirted with disaster with its depleted and banged up line up and needed to subdue a gutsy Quezon side before scoring a tough 94-91 win in the series opener of the PSL President\u2019s Cup at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum here late Tuesday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Already depleted after being orphaned by the departure of key players Michael Mabulac, Hesed Gabo and Roi Sumang then lost JP Maguliano and Bobby Balucanag to injuries, the 10-man Capitals were able to endure the stiff challenge posed by the Titans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Capitals raced off to a 17-point lead, 27-10, in the early goings of the game following a three-point basket by Jonathan UIyoan, but the young legs of the Titans were able to chase down that early deficit and manage to come back to make a game out of it beginning the second period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What started as a lopsided game turned out to be an exciting windup with the Titans threatening to snatch one away from the Capitals\u2019 homecourt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, Quezon was able to grab the lead, 76-75, off a lay up from RJ Minerva, 75-74, with still 6:35 left, until Chris Bitoon played the fireman\u2019s role for the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now the only acknowledged legitimate pure point guard in the squad, Bitoon took over down the stretch, hitting four triples in a four-minute stretch to stave off a last-minute uprising by the Titans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bitoon came away with a double-double performance of 16 points and 12 rebounds as his all-around game proved to be a much-needed relief for the Capitals, who watched in horror when Balucanag injured his knee while taking off during the warm up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Head coach Don Dulay was not surprised at how Quezon battled them to a standstill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat big lead happened too early,\u201d said Dulay. \u201cWe expected them to come back. It was a challenge today. Those guys, especially their guards, (Judel) Fuentes, LJ (Gonzales). They\u2019re a tough cover.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Dulay cannot help but praise his players for their valiant effort amid the circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt shows our championship character,\u201d added Dulay.   \u201cIt was a character test for us and so far, we passed the test and our guys stepped up. \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game 2 of their best-of-five championship series resumes at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum with the Capitals hoping to move on threshold of clinching the crown before the series transfers to Lucena City where Games 3 and 4 will be played.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PALAYAN, NUEVA ECIJA — Nueva Ecija flirted with disaster with its depleted and banged up line up and needed to subdue a gutsy Quezon side before scoring a tough 94-91 win in the series opener of the PSL President\u2019s Cup at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum here late Tuesday night. Already depleted after being orphaned by…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1014,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[37,17,24],"class_list":["post-1013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-nueva-ecija-capitals","tag-psl","tag-quezon-titans"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t