GAMES FRIDAY (Tarlac State University gym, Tarlac City)
4 p.m.—Hapee Toothpaste vs Burger King
6 p.m.—Harbour Centre vs San Mig Coffee

MANILA, Philippines—Ford Arao sank two pressure-packed free throws as San Mig Coffee subdued Toyota Otis Sparks, 68-64, Wednesday and clinched the last semifinal spot in the PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the Oreta Sports Center in Malabon City.

It will be the first semifinal stint for the Coffee Kings since capturing a crown as Magnolia Beverage during the 2005 season.

Bonbon Custodio sparkled with 18 points and Neil Rañeses contributed 17 while JP Alcaraz and the 6-foot-5 Arao added 10 points each for the Coffee Kings.

Trailing 51-59, the Sparks, bucking the ejection of top gunner Patrick Cabahug late in the third quarter, made a final dash to turn their fortunes around and came within two points before Arao finally broke their backs with his game-sealing charities.

Underdogs

Despite the morale-boosting triumph, the Coffee Kings remain the underdogs when they face the top-seeded Harbour Centre five in the semifinals, which will be held Friday at the Tarlac State University gym in Tarlac City.

Hapee Toothpaste, the No. 2 team after the eliminations, collides against Burger King in the other semifinal duel.

Cabahug was ejected late in the third quarter for an unsportsmanlike foul on Custodio after scoring only two points. The Coffee Kings also held Jonathan Aldave to four points.

Sluggish at the start, the Coffee Kings picked up steam in the second period with four straight baskets that put them ahead. Custodio and Rañeses then boosted the lead to 28-16 spread before San Mig settled for a 35-26 at halftime.

The first PBL outing in Tarlac City was made possible through the efforts of Philippine Olympic Committee spokesman Joey Romasanta, Tarlac City Mayor Genaro Mendoza and City Sports Development officer Arnold Rodriguez.

“The coming of the PBL (Philippine Basketball League) in Tarlac will be a big boost to the city’s sports development program. We welcome the players, coaches and officials of the PBL in Tarlac,” said Romasanta, who hails from Tarlac.

The scores:

SAN MIG COFFEE 68—Custodio 18, Rañeses 17, Alcaraz 10, Arao 10, Saldua 5, Losentes 4, Bolocon 3, Solis 1, Dela Cuesta 0, Sorongon 0, Mabayo 0, Balneg 0.

TOYOTA OTIS 64—Jaime 12, Rodriguez 12, Jazul 12, Villanueva 11, Faundo 6, Sta. Maria 5, Aldave 4, Cabahug 2, Cuan 0, Dedicatoria 0, Bucao 0, Berame 0, Sena 0.

Quarters: 12-10; 35-26; 53-51; 68-64.