Batangas sped away in the third quarter and withstood South Cotabato’s final assault to prevail, 81-79, late Monday and forces a Game Three decider in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season South Division playoffs at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Trailing, 40-41, the Batangas Tanduay Rum Masters clustered 16 points, including two triples by Jong Baloria, to seize control with 6 minutes and 24 seconds left and held the wheel till the end of Game Two.
With Philip Paniamogan canning two free throws, the Rum Masters built their biggest buffer, 60-44, and went on to avenge their 76-87 loss to the Warriors in Game One of their best-of-three semifinal series.
Earlier, the Quezon Huskers went to Judel Fuentes and repeled the Paranaque Patriots, 76-69, and advance to the South Finals via a two-game sweep.
Fuentes pumped in 10 of his game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Huskers duplicated their 75-62 victory in the series opener.
Now, all the Huskers need to do is wait for the winner between the Rum Masters and the Warriors in the sudden death slated at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, at the same venue.
South Cotabato crept to within 74-80, but MHJ Dela Virgen drove in and Baloria added a free throw to decide the outcome, 81-74, with 36.6 seconds left.
Batangas’ Levi Hernandez posted 15 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks to clinch the best player honors over Baloria (14 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks) and Paniamogan (13 points, 4 rebounds).
