BATANGAS withstood South Cotabato's final assault to prevail, 81-79, late Monday and forces a Game Three decider in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season South Division playoffs at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Trailing, 40-41, the Batangas Tanduay Rum Masters clustered 16 points, including two triples by Jong Baloria, to seize control with 6 minutes and 24 seconds left and hold the wheel till the end of Game Two.
With Philip Paniamogan canning two free throws, the Rum Masters built their biggest buffer, 60-44, and went on to avenge their 76-87 loss to the Warriors in Game One of their best-of-three semifinal series.
Huskers march on
Earlier, the Quezon Huskers called on Judel Fuentes to repel the Paranaque Patriots, 76-69, and advance to the South Finals via a two-game sweep.
Fuentes pumped in 10 of his game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Huskers duplicated their 75-62 victory in the series opener.
Now, all the Huskers need to do is wait for the winner between the Rum Masters and the Warriors in the sudden death slated at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, at the same venue.
South Cotabato crept to within 74-80, but MHJ Dela Virgen drove in and Baloria added a free throw to decide the outcome, 81-74, with 36.6 seconds left.
Christian Fajarito then scored for South Cotabato. After Batangas' Levi Hernandez missed two charities with 6.5 ticks to go, Warrior JP Calvo drilled in a buzzer-beater triple for the final count.
Hernandez posted 15 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks to clinch Best Player honors over Baloria (14 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks) and Paniamogan (13 points, 4 rebounds).
Other Rum Masters who delivered for coach Cholo Villanueva were Dawn Ochea with 7 points and 7 rebounds, CJ Isit with 7 points and 4 assists and Cedric Ablaza with 6 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
South Cotabato got 13 points and 5 rebounds from Nico Elorde, 11 points plus 2 rebounds and 2 assists from Jervy Cruz, 10 points and 3 rebounds from Kyle Tolentino and 10 points plus 9 rebounds from Jammer Jamito.
Calvo wound up with 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, Val Acuna with 8 points and 2 rebounds and Game One star Fajarito with 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
Showing why he's licensed to shoot, Fuentes made 10 of 18 field goal attempts, highlighted by a 5 of 11 performance from the 3-point zone, and added 3 rebounds to earn the Daily Fantasy best player honors.
Fuentes was the lone Husker in twin digits, with Jason Opiso and team skipper Gab Banal contributing 8 points each and Alvin Abundo chipping in 7, all in the first half.
Banal also posted 7 rebounds and 3 assists while Opiso grabbed 4 rebounds as the Huskers held the rein for 37 minutes and 27 seconds.
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