Von Lloyd Dechos sank the go-ahead triple to lift Pagadian over Petra Cement-Roxas in overtime, 82-80, in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Leg at the Provincial Gymnasium in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, on Thursday.
Down by a point in the final minute, homegrown Dechos drained a three-pointer from the right corner to put the Explorers in the lead for good.
Pagadian though had four chances to extend its lead, but Keanu Caballero and Jeric Serrano missed their free-throws, setting up one last chance for Roxas.
In the last play of the match, veteran Chito Jaime caught the ball in the corner and launched a three but it rimmed out to give the Explorers the victory.
Tied at 68 with 3.5 seconds left in the game, Vanguard JK Casiño threw a triple from the right-wing but missed.
“Dechos can shoot if he gets my green light. And I always remind my point guards to spot our open shooters all the time,” Pagadian head coach Harold Sta. Cruz said.
Caballero and John Edros Quimado led Pagadian with 12 points apiece in the game plagued by a 12-minute ower shortage at the 1:57 mark of the second quarter.
Dechos, Christian Manalo and Rich Guinitiran had 10 points each for the winners.
Veterans Jhong Bondoc and Leo Najorda delivered 15 points, but Bondoc fouled out with 40.8 seconds left in the match.
The Explorers will take on Zamboanga City at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, while the Vanguards target their first win at 3 p.m. on Sunday against Clarin.