Pilipinas Super League: Quezon City Stars Edge Manila in Double-Overtime Thriller
A clutch corner triple with 4.8 seconds remaining in the second extra period seals a dramatic 104-101 victory in the PSL National Tournament quarterfinals.
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — In one of the most grueling playoff battles in Pilipinas Super League (PSL) history, the Quezon City Stars outlasted the Manila Stars in a double-overtime 104-101 slugfest at the Amoranto Sports Complex on Wednesday evening.
Trailing by two with under ten seconds left in the second overtime, QC veteran floor general Mark Cruz executed a crisp pick-and-roll before kicking out to an open shooting guard on the wing, who sank the game-winning three-pointer as the arena erupted.
Defensive Grit Down the Stretch
Both squads traded body blows through forty minutes of regulation and two exhausting five-minute extensions. The contest featured 18 lead changes and 14 deadlocks, highlighting the parity and grassroots passion defining the current PSL season.
"Our boys simply refused to pack it in," said Quezon City head coach in the post-game press conference. "Playing back-to-back overtimes demands absolute discipline and heart. Credit to Manila for pushing us to the brink, but our transition defense saved us in the final minute."
With the hard-fought quarterfinal triumph, Quezon City books their ticket to the PSL National Semifinals, where they will face the top-seeded Davao Occidental Tigers in a best-of-three series next week.
Information in this story was reported by TipOffPh editorial staff and verified against Pilipinas Super League Media Bureau. Original Reference