CARLO Lastimosa canned two charities with 11.9 seconds left, as home team Binan Tatak Gel rallied to nip South Cotabato, 70-69, on Thursday and force a Game 3 decider in their South Division quarterfinal series in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Laguna.
The Warriors got two chances to reverse the outcome, but Jervy Cruz missed an open three and Marwin Dionisio flubbed a short jumper, enabling the Lagunenses to steal Game 2 after narrowly losing the opener, 82-85.
The series will return to the venue on Oct. 23 to determine which team will advance to the South semifinals against Batangas, which swept Davao Occidental, 89-86, earlier.
READ: Batangas marches on in MPBL playoffs as Paniamogan thwarts Davao rally
Trailing by as many as 12 points after three quarters, Binan threatened at 64-63 following a 13-2 run by JJ Pido, Jaymar Gimpayan, and Philip Manalang.
South Cotabato countered on a jumper by Mark Cruz that trickled in and a triple by JP Calvo that bounced in, 69-63, with three minutes to go, forcing Tatak Gel coach Boyet Fernandez to sue for time.
The Warriors went silent the rest of the way, however, as the Lagunenses scavenged for seven points on three free throws by Nino Canaleta, a layup by Pamboy Raymundo, and Lastimosa's game-clinching charities.
It was veteran Marc Pingris who showed the way throughout, however, with a team-high 13 points and three rebounds.
Others who delivered for Binan were Kenny Roger Rocacurva with 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, Jaymar Gimpayan with 10 points and five rebounds, and Michael Heinrich Maestre nine points and six rebounds.
South Cotabato, which actually ruled the boards, 45-35, got 13 points each from Larry Rodriguez and Val Acuna and 11 points from Jammer Jamito.
The MPBL playoffs resumes on Monday, with Zamboanga Master Sardines and Paranaque disputing another South semifinal seat at 7 p.m. at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City.
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