Bataan squeaked past Pampanga, 85-83, in overtime on Saturday and kept its semifinal bid alive in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme at the people-filled Bren Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
A 7-point cluster, triggered by Kristoffer Torrado’s 3-pointer, swayed the balance for the Bataan Risers, who were hounded by poor free throw shooting, especially in the extension.
The Camaya Coast-backed Risers, who yielded to the Giant Lanterns, 75-82, in Game 1, thus forced a Game 3 decider on October 29 at the same venue.
Earlier, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards thwarted the Marikina Shoemasters, 82-71, to sweep their quarterfinal series and cruised to the semifinal round, where they’re going to face the winner between Bataan and Pampanga.
Torrado, who played for 43 minutes and 15 seconds, wound up with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, to earn best player of the game honors. He got support from Arvie Bringas with 16 points and 13 rebounds, Ernesto Bondoc with 12 points and 9 rebounds and Gio Espuelas with 9 points and 6 rebounds.
As expected Nueva Ecija had little trouble repeating over Marikina, which it dumped, 103-71, in their series opener.
