WNBL: Army Captures Championship- June 26, 2022
POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
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Cindy Resultay
National player Janine Pontejos (165-G-1992) stamped her class as she singlehandedly powered the Army Lady Battalion to the championship of the 2022 Women's Basketball League (WNBL) over a very tough PSI Air Force, 70-57, Sunday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center. Behind Pontejos' torrid shooting, Army swept the best-of-three series to complete their rise from uncertainty midway through the tournament. Air Force had hoped to recover from their Game One loss, 77-70, last Friday in Malolos City and outscored Army in the third quarter, 22-14, to take a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter, 49-48. However, the task of playing catch up took its toll on the Lady Air Defenders as the Lady Battalion took advantage. Army turned to their defense to limit Air Force to only eight points in the fourth. Ambie Almazan opened the fourth with a basket to increase their lead, 51-48, but the Lady Battalion countered with a 13-0 run starring Pontejos and Chak Cabinbin for a 61-51 advantage with four minutes to play. Jesusa Avila temporarily stopped the bleeding with a basket but there was no stopping Army. Vangie Soriano canned a triple followed by more hits from Pontejos and Cabinbin to establish their biggest lead, 68-43, and 1:43 remaining. Winner of three Southeast Asian Games gold medals, Pontejos saved the best for last with a 33-point effort, one short of the record 34 set by Raiza Palmera-Dy last season for the defunct Glutagence Glow Boosters. Cabinbin gave good support with 14 points and nine assists. Cindy Resultay (167-F-1990) led Air Force with 20 points. Almazan was next with 16 points and 23 rebounds as the Lady Air Defenders lost two in a row after going on an eight-game winning role earlier in the tournament. Army was given up for lost after losing five straight games in the elimination round - the latter two with Pontejos and Cabinbin unavailable due to national team duties - and finished fourth with a 3-5 win-loss card. What followed was a major upset of undefeated top seed Taguig Lady Generals in the semifinals, 2-1, paving the way for a shot at the title. |
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