GABBY Espinas' short stab at the buzzer allowed Caloocan to stun San Juan, 79-78, on Friday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Jeramer Cabanag found himself covered as he drove in, but saw Espinas open for the clincher that revved up the Batang Kankaloo's drive for the fourth playoff spot in the North Division of the 29-team tournament.
Caloocan climbed to 18-9 and could still dislodge Manila SV Batang Sampaloc (18-8) if it wins over also-ran Sarangani (5-21) and Manila yields to playoff-bound Zamboanga Master Sardines on Saturday then already-eliminated Pangasinan (12-15) on Tuesday.
Joco Tayongtong also delivered for the home team, knocking in two free throws that pushed the Batang Kankaloo ahead anew, 77-76, after the top seed Knights clustered eight points to wrest control at 76-75 with 41.8 seconds left.
San Juan's Orlan Wamar, however, pierced Caloocan's interior defense for an off-balanced jumper that temporarily silenced the home crowd will 4.2 seconds to go.
Still, the Batang Kankaloo kept their poise to pull down the Knights' final elimination round tally to 26-2.
Tayongtong finished with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Rommel Calahat got 16 points and six rebounds and Espinas wound up with 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Wamar posted 22 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals for San Juan, followed by Dexter Maiquez with 11 points and 12 rebounds and John Galinato with 10 points.
Meanwhile, Pasay banked on Axel Inigo and Dhon Reverevente to stun Nueva Ecija, 65-64, earlier.
READ: Pasay stuns Nueva Ecija in playoff preview
Jameson Hiro also played hero, as Imus nipped Bacolod, 130-127, in a freewheeling battle between doormat teams.
The MPBL goes to the Olivarez College Gym on Saturday with games pitting Sarangani against Iloilo at 4 p.m., Marikina against Valenzuela at 6 p.m., and Zamboanga against Manila at 8 p.m.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
