EURO-MED stunned league leader Mighty Sports, 87-73, Wednesday night to keep its hopes alive for an automatic semifinals berth even as Jumbo Plastic tightened its grip of second spot in the PCBL Chairman’s Cup at Marikina Sports Center.
Eloy Poligrates and Ola Adeogun dished out big games while Jeff Tajonera provided the spark off the bench as Euro-Med improved to 6-5.
Jumbo Plastic gained the inside track in the race for the remaining semifinal bonus with a 75-46 demolition of Supremo Lex.
The Linoleum Giants raced to an early double-digit edge before coasting along the rest of the way to solidify their hold of second spot at 7-4.
Byaheng SCTEX is in third spot at 6-5.
Playing without star Kiefer Ravena, Mighty still proved a tough nut to crack for an inspired Euro-Med squad.
Poligrates, whose entry to the team along with Lester Alvarez and Eric Salamat triggered Euro-Med’s turnaround, led the way with 23 points, while Adeogun dished out 21 points and 14 rebounds.
Tajonera contributed 10 points, including three triples as Euro-Med pinned on Mighty only its second defeat of the tournament.
Mighty seized control early on, 38-27, before Poligrates triggered a 13-0 run to put Euro Med on top to stay.
Euro-Med built an unassailable 62-45 lead early in the final period.
The scores:
First Game
JUMBO PLASTIC 75—Perez 11, Arafat 11, Eguilos 9, Martinez 9, Taganas 9, Viernes 7, Bitoon 6, Ibay 5, Arellano 4, Siruma 4, Lopez 0, Santos 0.
SUPREMO LEX-OLFU 46—Cabrera 9, Brana 9, Montuano 9, Albano 4, Jamon 4, Gozum 4, Datu 3, Bargola 2, Villamin 2, Olondriz 0, Acidre 0.
Quarters: 19-10, 40-25, 59-37, 75-46
Second Game
EURO-MED 87—Poligrates 23, Adeogun 21, Tajonera 10, Alvarez 7, Salcedo 6, Capacio 6, Saitanan 5, Custodio 3, Salamat 3, Llagas 2, Almario 1, Galanza 0.
MIGHTY SPORTS 73—A. Bringas 13, Ferrer 12, Banal 11, Akhuetie 10, Lopez 8, M. Bringas 8, Montilla 5, Tang 4, Celada 2, Mangahas 0, Regalado 0, Melocoton 0, Wongchuking 0.
Quarters: 22-23, 47-45, 67-57, 87-73