MANILA, Philippines — Semifinalist-in-waiting Blackwater Sports defeated Erase Xfoliant 82-76 Thursday in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasay.
Allan Mangahas had a team-best 14 points, including the steal and the dagger with 11.5 seconds remaining for the Elite, which concluded their elimination round with an 8-2 card.
Kevin Ferrer and Louie Vigil added 13 and 10 points each while starting forward Gio Ciriacruz had nine markers and 11 boards.
Head coach Leo Isaac, though, admitted Blackwater was “sluggish,” as they allowed XFoliant to dictate the pace early in the game.
“I had to yell at them to remind them that we have to perform well even if it’s a non-bearing game,” said Isaac in Filipino after the game.
Blackwater awaits the winner of the Cagayan Valley-Cebuana Lhuillier quarterfinals match up.
But the Elite hung tough in the fourth quarter even in the face of Kevin Racal’s 26-point, eight-rebound explosion for Erase Xfoliant.
The Erasers finished their campaign this conference with a 2-8 record.