Harbour through; Hapee stalled By Jasmine W. Payo Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 01:24:00 05/16/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Harbour Centre reached the PBL Finals for the fifth straight time Thursday but Hapee Toothpaste failed to wrap up its own semifinal series as Burger King staved off elimination in the Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup.
In a scene that has become all too familiar, Batang Pier turned to Jason Castro in the final minute as the four-time champions nipped San Mig Coffee, 73-69, to sweep their best-of-five Final Four series at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex.
Castro fired 25 points, including a triple and pair of free throws that gave Batang Pier a 71-69 advantage with 38.2 seconds left.
But the Complete Protectors couldn't keep pace with Batang Pier as the Whoppers of Burger King stayed alive with a 70-69 win behind Marcy Arellano and Chris Baluyot.
Arellano brought Burger King from eight points down as Baluyot nailed a crucial shot-clock beating jumper for 69-66 with 45 ticks left.
After Gabe Norwood missed a potential game-tying triple, Abby Santos' free throw with 4.6 seconds sealed the win for the Whoppers at 70-66. Reed Juntilla nailed an inconsequential trey at the buzzer for the final tally.
"I told them it's important for us to believe that we can get one game," said coach Allan Gregorio after Burger King trimmed Hapee's series lead to 2-1.
"Now that we got one game, the dream is to get another one. They started believing that it's not impossible."
Coach Louie Alas said his Complete Protectors "played without energy" after posting blowout wins in Game 1 (82-70) and in Game 2 (86-66).
"They (Whoppers) did their homework," said Alas.
Game 4 of the Hapee-Burger duel is set Saturday at Trece Martires City in Cavite.
Staring at an eight-point deficit, 49-57, at the start of the fourth period, Arellano unloaded nine points in a 15-5 rally capped by a layup off a steal as the Whoppers wrested the lead, 64-62, with 4:08 minutes left.
Kelvin Gregorio also scored five points in the key fourth-quarter run to knot the count at 62.
Khiel Misa shot a team-high 16 points for Burger King on top of seven boards and four assists, while Santos finished a rebound-shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine boards.
"We played tremendous defense for 40 minutes," said Gregorio. "We were down (by eight points), but we were able to get back. It speaks well of the frame of mind of the Whoppers."
Misa fired 11 straight points, nine coming from beyond the arc, to lift the Whoppers to a 43-41 advantage midway in the third period.
The scores:
First Game BURGER KING 70--Misa 16, Santos 13, Ballesteros 13, Arellano 11, Gregorio 7, Bravo 4, David 2, Bonus 2, Baluyot 2, Barcellano 0, Angeles 0.
Second Game HARBOUR CENTRE 73--Castro 25, Alonzo 12, Tang 10, Mercado 10, Fernandez 7, Chan 4, Belga 2, Asoro 2, Gaco 1, Gamboa 0, Vergara 0, Malabanan 0.
SAN MIG COFFEE 69--Custodio 24, Dela Cuesta 13, Rañeses 11, Saldua 9, Alcaraz 6, Bolocon 4, Del Rosario 2, Mabayo 0, Balneg 0, Losentes 0, Sorongon 0, Solis 0.
Quarters: 13-16, 30-33, 50-50, 73-69
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