Batch 2012 now has a chance to retain their title in Game Two of the best-of-three affair on Tuesday night at the same venue.
Down 68-72, Diputado drained a long straightaway triple to pull his team to within one, 71-72 with over two minutes remaining. Julius Cadavis then put 2012 in front, 73-72, with a free-throw line jumper. Diputado continued his scoring barrage by splitting his free-throws to push their lead to two.
Batch 2014 had a shot at retaking the lead, but Jair Igna missed a triple from the corner. Diputado then tracked down the rebound, pushed the ball up the floor and got 2014’s Zachy Huang out of position with a slight hesitation before zooming all the way to the rim for a left-handed layup that all but sealed the victory for Batch 2012.
Diputado finished with 21 points, five assists, four rebounds, and two steals. Dave Wilson Yu also had 21 points — spiked by five three-pointers — to go with six rebounds. Mavii Suarez added 17 markers.
Batch 2014 got 26 points and 14 rebounds from Lucky Ecarma, while Huang had 19 points, eight boards, and five steals. The team’s missing link was Jair Igna who shot 2-of-14 from the field and had just four points.
Meanwhile in Division B, the Cebu Landmasters-2003 are just one win away from completing a championship sweep after they bested the SUPREA Ready Mixed Concrete-2011, 76-67.
Daryle Tan led Batch 2003’s attack with 25 points and five rebounds. Justin Huang and Moncrief Rogado also had solid, all-around numbers as the former had 12 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, while the latter chipped in 12 points, eight boards, and six assists.
Over in Division A, the Foreign Xchange-2000 forced a winner-take-all Game Three after they beat the Dynacast-2001, 47-44, in Game Two of their semifinals showdown. Joevince Canizares dominated the low-scoring affair with 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Serg Al Gobui and Johannes Chua had eight apiece for Batch 2000.