Belencion lights up, Tanduay ousts UP QRS/JAM Liner for semis spot 

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Tanduay booked the final ticket to the 2016 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup semifinals after repulsing UP QRS/JAM Liner, 99-89, in their do-or-die quarterfinals duel Thursdayat Ynares Sports Arena.

JP Belencion lifted the Rhum Masters with 27 points and five rebounds, while Lucas Tagarda added 14 markers to help their team advance to the semifinals for the first time since the 2013 Foundation Cup.

Adrian Santos also was perfect from the charity stripe, going 7-for-7 to end up with 13 points and five boards, while Jeoff Javillonar had 12.

“Matagal na kami rito and it’s been a while,” said coach Lawrence Chongson. “Second appearance pa lang namin sa semifinals since yung inception ng D-League, but poetic justice. Yung ibang kalaban namin, ngayon pa lang pumasok kaya napakasaklap naman kung mae-eliminate kami.”

Tanduay fired a 21-7 salvo to open the third period to break away from the Maroons, 62-52, with 2:42 left in the frame. The Rhum Masters, then, kept on putting the pressure as they went on to lead by as much as 19, 75-56 early in the fourth.

However, UP QRS/JAM Liner did not go down without a fight, as Raymund Aguilar and Gelo Alolino teamed up to bring their squad back to within six, 93-87 with 1:10 left. But Belencion and Tagarda proved to be calm on the free throw line as the Rhum Masters took the victory for good.

Fifth-seed Tanduay erased a twice-to-win disadvantage with a 68-66 Game 1 victory last Thursday, and will now brace for CafeFrance in the best-of-three semifinals, to beginon Tuesday at San Juan Arena.

Alolino carried the Maroons in the exit with 24 points, while Aguilar had 17 markers and five rebounds.

Raul Soyud also had a double-double with 15 points and 13 boards, and Kevin Ferrer got 15 markers, seven rebounds, and four assists in the defeat.

The Scores:

TANDUAY 99 – Belencion 27, Tagarda 14, Santos 13, Javillonar 12, Lingganay 10, Llagas 8, Acuña 4, Celda 4, Pessumal 4, Wetherell 3, Gotladera 0.

UP QRS/JAM LINER 89 – Alolino 24, Aguilar 17, Ferrer 15, Soyud 15, Desiderio 6, Lim 6, Batino 4, Villarias 2, Moralde 0, Neypes 0, Sorela 0.

Quarters: 28-21, 41-45, 66-56, 99-89.