Last conference champions Blackwater Sports Elite clinched the last playoff spot after whipping Cebuana Lhuillier Gems, 96-74 in the PBA D-league Aspirant’s Cup at the FilOil Flying V arena in San Juan.
Blackwater Elite Sports (Photo: Inquirer.net/Nuki Sabio)
The Elite broke the game wide open right at the end of the opening frame with a huge 31-13 lead to seize the victory and move in the quarterfinals.
Rookie Jericho Cruz paced Blackwater with 19 points and 16 rebounds while Allan Mangahas added 16 markers.
Meanwhile, Cagayan Valley banked on John Pinto’s end game heroics to hack out a 78-74 victory over the defending champion NLEX.
The game was tied with 53.9 seconds left when Pinto scored four of his 11 points total to lift the Rising suns over the powerhouse road warriors.
Cagayan improved their record to a 9-4 heading in the playoffs.
The semis-bound NLEX on the other hand remained in the second spot with a 10-2 card.
In the battle between NU-BDO, they thrashed Derulo Accelero, 94-68.
Bobby Ray Parks pumped in 23 points to lead the Bulldogs, who ended their campaign on a three-game winning streak for a 5-8 card.
