Harbour Centre clinches top seed in PBL Final Four
abs-cbnnews.com | 04/23/2008 11:44 PM
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Games Thursday
(Malabon Sports Center)
2 p.m. – Bacchus Energy vs Hapee Toothpaste
4 p.m. – Toyota Otis vs Pharex
Harbour Centre clinched the top spot in the Final Four by fighting off Noosa Shoes, 76-71, in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.
A report posted on www.Philippinebasketballleague.org said the Harbour Centre Port Masters had to lean on Jason Castro and Ty Tang to remain unscathed in 12 games.
Noosa Shoes tried avenging their 79-48 loss to the Port Masters in the first round by playing an aggressive game.
Harbour Centre, however, forced Noosa into one-on-one plays to keep the Port Masters afloat.
Castro became red hot during the last five minutes of the game, completing a three-point play that shattered a 64-64 count with 4:54 remaining.
The Port Masters then matched the Shoe Stars point-by-point towards the end of the game.
Aside from Castro and Tang, Port Master coach Jorge Gallent credited Sol Mercado who limited Shoe Star Noy Javier to just two free throws in the final five minutes.
Nabbing the No. 1 spot at the Final Four, Harbour Centre now has the luxury of choosing which of the two quarterfinal winners they will play against in the best-of-five semis.
In the 2nd game, Hapee Toothpaste scored a 72-68 win over slumping San Mig Coffee despite the ejection of their coach Louie Alas.
With the win, Hapee nabbed the other outright semis berth.
The scores:
First Game
Harbour Centre 76 – Gaco 15, Vergara 11, Tang 9, Alonzo 8, Castro 7, Mercado 6, Asoro 6, Chan 5, Gamboa 5, Fernandez 4, Ababou 0, Malabanan 0.
Noosa Shoes 71 – Javier 23, Serios 19, Dela Pena 13, Robles 8, Mangahas 5, Celada 2, Evangelista 1, Burtscher 0, Vizcarra 0.
Quarters: 15-27; 40-38; 61-57; 76-71.
Second Game
Hapee 72 -- Norwood 17, Cruz 13, Borboran 12, Daa 6, Rodriguez 6, Mercado5, Viray 5, Juntilla 4, Tan 3, Saguindel 1, Ranises 0.
San Mig 68 – Custodio 18, Raneses 12, Saldua 10, Dela Cuesta 9, Alcaraz 5, Arao 4, Losentes 3, Dalafu 2, Bolocon 1, Solis 1, Mabayo 0, Balneg.
Quarters: 15-24; 41-32;51-51; 72-68.
