The Road Warriors cruised to a 100-71 rout against an FCA side that hardly stood a chance with team stars Eric Salamat, Ogie Menor and Calvin Abueva simultaneously sizzling on the floor.
A Max Bond veteran, though, took charge in the final stretch as Reil Cervantes knocked in all but two of his team’s last 13 points to lift the Sumos past Blackwater Elite, 74-71, in the knockout quarterfinals.
The semifinalists head to another do-or-die clash on Thursday, with Cebuana Lhuillier and PC Gilmore battling at 2 p.m. and NLEX and Max Bond colliding at 4 p.m.
Cervantes finished with a game-high 21 points, the last on a go-ahead jumper that put the Sumos back on top, 72-71, just 12.5 seconds remaining.
A turnover on the other end forced Blackwater to stop the clock and foul Jeric Teng, who cushioned the Sumos’ lead with two free throws with just 6.3 ticks left.
The Elite tried to forge overtime but Ian Mazo—whose earlier triple gave Blackwater its last lead, 71-68—missed another attempt from three-point range at the buzzer.
“That last play was for Reil,” said Max coach Pido Jarencio. “I told him he could take any shot that he wanted and he said he’d take it. I knew he had the confidence to win the game.”
The Sumos also drew strong games from Leimar Navarro, who delivered with 12 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, and Rudy Lingganay, who had nine points and eight boards.
Salamat paced the Road Warriors with 15 points and six rebounds, while Menor and Abueva combined for 24 markers.
“We’ve been preparing for FCA the past weeks, I’m just happy that the boys stayed in the game plan and we came out to win,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez.
The scores:
First Game
MAX BOND 74 — Cervantes 21, Navarro 12, Lingganay 9, Teng 9, Hugnatan 9, Bautista 6, Camus 4, Cabatu 4, Bustos 0, Fortuna 0, Benitez 0.
BLACKWATER 71 — Ciriacruz 14, Mazo 14, Celada 12, Saret 12, Acidre 7, Ablaza 4, Belorio 4, Lapuz 4, Del Rosario R. 0 Del Rosario J.. 0, Ihalas 0.
Quarters: 17-8, 37-33, 49-54, 74-71
Second Game
NLEX 100 — Salamat 15, Menor 13, Abueva 11, Belencion 10, Pascual 10, Hodge 9, Ellis 9, Co 7, Sangalang 6, Raymundo 6, Taganas 3, Suguitan 1, Reyes 0, Dehesa 0.
FCA 71 — Mallari 13, Collado 12, Reyes 9, Pascual 8, Cole 6, Co 5, Gerilla 5, Bulawan 5, Canlas 5, Maconocido 3, Custodio 0.
Quarters: 26-14, 53-31, 77-54, 100-71