Parañaque-Gamboa Coffee rode on a big second half performance to bundle out fancied Bulacan-Ligo Sardines, 77-70, on Tuesday night and complete the semifinal cast in the 2018 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Anta Rajah Cup.
The Patriots silenced a jampacked Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium crowd with former NCAA stars Juneric Baloria, Harold Arboleda and Ryusei Koga delivering the telling blows in the last two quarters to eliminate the second-seeded Kuyas and forge a semifinal duel with Muntinlupa Angelis Resort.
Valenzuela-Yulz will meet top seed Batangas City-Tanduay in the other semifinal pairing after the fourth seed Classic overcame a gritty Quezon City Royal Manila squad, 74-72.
Sidelined by a rib injury in Game 2 won by the Capitals in Valenzuela, Paolo Hubalde returned to fuel the Classic’s offense, finishing with 21 points and four assists.
But the former PBA stalwart’s biggest contribution came with a second remaining when he challenged Gian Abrigo’s potential game tying layup that preserved the Classic’s victory.
Game 1 of both semifinal series will be on Thursday at Batangas City Coliseum, where the Athletics are unbeaten in four home games so far this season. Batangas and Muntinlupa swept Bataan and Navotas, respectively, to clinch semifinal berths last week.
Baloria finished with 16 points, including four triples, while Arboleda tallied 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Patriots, who lost the series opener before winning the next two games.
It was a stunning end to Bulacan’s campaign which looked promising heading into the playoffs when it went on a six-game winning run.
“We won because of our hard work,” said Patriots coach Aric del Rosario. “We lost Game 1, but the players did not give up. They want to prove something in the MPBL.”
The Kuyas struggled to find their form offensively as the Patriots led by as many as 18 points in the second half. The entry of ex pro Marlou Aquino in the second half failed to turn the tide for the Kuyas, who also lost for the first time on their home floor.