Hog’s Breath came back from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to stun erstwhile unbeaten Cagayan Valley, 82-78, for its second win in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup yesterday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Jose Rizal University star Philip Paniamogan scored nine points in the game’s last 5:43 as the Razorbacks turned a 76-63 deficit into a victory that stunned the fancied Rising Suns.
Paul Sanga’s three-pointer with exactly two minutes remaining made it 78-76 for the Razorbacks, who played without coach Caloy Garcia who was with his Letran team in the NCAA Finals against San Beda.
Garcia also steered Letran to a 79-74 win to force a do-or-die showdown in their best-of-three title series.
With Cagayan’s defeat, Big Chill remained as the only undefeated team in the league with a 3-0 mark.
In other results, Elliot Tan and Karl Dehesa led Jumbo Plastic to a lopsided 80-62 victory over the Zambales M-Builders for a 3-1 record.
The Giants were in control throughout although they needed a barrage of 3-pointers during a 20-12 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to secure their third win in four games.
Tan and Dehesa scored 16 points apiece and combined for 6 of 10 shooting from 3-point range. Jan Colina grabbed 11 rebounds as Jumbo Plastic dominated the glass, 50-38.
“We need this win stay within sight of the leaders. I feels good to get back again on the winning track,” said Jumbo Plastic coach Steve Tiu.
The loss was the second straight and third in the last four games for the Builders, who fell to 2-3.
Boracay Rum outlasted National University-Banco de Oro, 73-63, after the Waves, who practically dominated the second half, nearly blew a 15-point lead late in the fourth.
A 3-point shot by Mark Belo and a completed four-point play by Roider Cabrera sealed it for the Waves.
Belo made 9-of-12 attempts and finished with 20 points to share scoring honors with Chris Bancero, who also dished seven assists and had three steals as the Waves improved to 2-2 after frustrating defeats against Blackwater Sports and Café France.
Only Bobby Ray Parks Jr. scored in double figures for Banco de Oro with 11 points. The Bulldogs’ star, however, was hardly impressive in his first two games.