TANDUAY gunner Roi Zumang (top) opts to make a pass as he is harassed by Jamil Gabawan and Jaypee Belencion of Kera Mix. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Jumbo Plastic rode the hot shooting of Paul Sanga in the final period to hack out a 78-72 triumph over MP Hotel yesterday and clinch a quarterfinal berth in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The former Far Eastern U gunner bailed out his struggling squad by hitting 13 of his 15 points in the last quarter to power the Giants to victory and a place in the playoffs against Hapee Toothpaste which will be armed with a twice to beat advantage.
“We played terrible, but the guys hung in there and Paul (Sanga) carried us in the fourth with his shooting,” said Jumbo coach Stevenson Tiu whose team finished with a 5-4 card.
Later, Roi Sumang knocked in a jumper with 7.2 seconds left as Tanduay Light nipped Kera Mix, 70-69.
But the victory wasn’t enough to propel the Rhum Masters to the quarterfinals as AMA University bagged the sixth and last playoff spot due to a superior quotient over Tanduay and Kera Mix. The three teams had identical 4-5 records at the end of eliminations.
The Titans will face third seed Cagayan Valley in the quarterfinals on Monday. The Rising Suns own a twice-to-beat edge. Cebuana Lhuillier and Cafe France earlier earned automatic semifinal seats after finishing 1-2.
Reprising his role at University of the East where he was the go-to guy at crunchtime, Sumang hit the game winner over Jeff Viernes.
The scores:
First Game
JUMBO PLASTIC 78—Sanga 15, Paniamogan 13, Khobuntin 13, Villamor 11, Arellano 6, Mandani 5, Tiongson 4, Eguilos 4, Avillanoza 4, Perez 3, Purdy 0.
MP HOTEL 72—Mirza 21, Acidre 15, Dela Pena 10, Quinto 8, Nambatac 6, Custodio 5, Mendoza 5, Colina 2, Cruz 1, Masaglang 0, Jur Luib 0, Calvo 0, Afreku 0.
Quarters: 25-21, 42-38, 55-56, 78-72
Second Game
TANDUAY 70—Sumang 16, Mariano 10, Rosales 10, Belencion 7, Rono 7, Santos 6, Ilagan 5, Eriobu 4, Escueta 3, Tagarda 2, Cenal 0, Lo 0.
KERA MIX 69—Digregorio 17, Parala 15, Viernes 14, Gabawan 8, Robles 7, Jalalon 4, Agovida 2, Ruaya 2, Ibay 0, Saitanan 0, Gil 0.
Quarters: 18-17, 37-29, 53-58, 70-69