Batangas banked on Philip Paniamogan's explosion in the fourth quarter to thwart Davao, 89-86, on Thursday and advance to the South Division semifinals in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan.
Paniamogan pumped in all of his nine points in that span on two triples and a crucial off-balanced bank shot that halted the Davao Occidental Tigers' last-gasp rally, 87-84, and pushed the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters to their sixth straight semifinal appearance in the two-division, 29-team tournament.
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The Rum Masters also battered the Tigers, 79-66, in Game One to cut short the best-of-three series.
Up next for Batangas is the winner of another quarterfinal series between South Cotabato and Binan.
Levi Hernandez led Batangas with 20 points, spiked by four triples, and was chosen the Best Player of the game over Cedric Ablaza, who posted 13 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals for Batangas Coach Cholo Villanueva.
Other Rum Masters who delivered were Jong Baloria with 13 points plus 3 rebounds, Jeckster Apinan with 11 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists and Kris Porter with 10 points plus 5 rebounds.
The game was tight throughout with neither team leading by twin digits, although the Rum Masters were in control for 26 minutes and 59 seconds against the Tigers' 8 minutes and 41 seconds.
Davao got 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists from Terrence Tumalip, 11 points plus 5 assists from Mark Tallo, 19 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals from Art Dela Cruz and 10 points, 3 assists and 3 steals from Bonbon Custodio.
The MPBL playoffs resume on Monday with Zamboanga Master Sardines and Paranaque disputing another South Division semifinal seat at 7 p.m. in Zamboanga City.
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