Climbs threaten Jashel, 78-73
CLIMBS Insurance on Wednesday forced a rubber match after a come-from-behind 78-73 win over tournament leader Jashel Trucking in quarterfinals of the 2017 Hazzard Ballers Inter-Company Basketball Friendship Games at NHA covered courts here in brgy. Kauswagan.
In contrast, second seed Desmark Corporation dodged Philtyres' upset axe, 82-65 to take the first semifinals seat.
Climbs, which edged LF Logistics and Toyota Motors in three-way logjam for the final eighth spot, made a strong statement after handing Jashel truckers of its first loss since sweeping the elimination round with a 11-0 record.
Loigie Rosabal scored 15 points to lead Climbs, while Chared Naliponguit and Charlys Panilag added 13 points each.
Climbs erased a six-point deficit in the final fourth quarter after Naliponguit ignited a run with a threepoint bomb, while Rosabal followed it up with an undergoal stab en route to a 73-all deadlock.
Climbs manager Uly Zulueta sealed the victory after connecting back-to-back jumpers for a 4-point lead with time ticking away.
Jashel got 14 and 13 points each from Andot Balsarza and Macabechaw for their losing cause.
Desmark was too strong for Philtyres in all quarters. Its lead even stretched to 33 points, 56-23 early in the third quarter.
Two more quarterfinal matches will be played with Jed Jared staking its twiceto-bet advantage against Monark in tonight's curtain raiser set at 7:30 pm.
GL Autoworks tries to avenge its elimination round loss to Maybank Tigers at 8:30 pm.
However, GL has to beat the Tigers twice to advance in the semifinal round.