Mangahas upbeat about Racal’s chances in finals

Allan Mangahas lifts Racal in clincher. PBA IMAGES

Racal guard Allan Mangahas is confident about the Tile Masters’ chances heading into the team’s first finals stint.

Mangahas helped Racal reach the championship round with a clutch performance, scoring 12 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter to outplay Cafe France down the stretch in their do-or-die semifinals tiff Tuesday.

“We have a big chance in the finals because we can matchup with either Cignal and Tanduay,” Mangahas told reporters in Filipino after Racal’s pulsating 78-74 win.

READ: Mangahas tows Racal to first PBA D-League finals stint

“We’re positive. We beat Tanduay in the elimination round and we fought a close game against Cignal even though we lost,” he said.

The 29-year-old Mangahas hit timely 3-pointers, including a dagger that set the final score with 4.3 ticks left. He made four triples in the fourth quarter alone, sinking three in a row during a critical stretch.

The Tile Masters turned to Mangahas in crucial situations but the former Mapua star insisted that he just let the game come to him rather than take matters into his own hands.

“I just let Salado and Nambatac do their thing because they’re the ones who create for us and it just so happened that Salado made plays and found me for the three.”

Mangahas will be making his third finals appearance after playing in his first two as a vital part of Blackwater. He won a title in 2013.