Facing no tomorrow, the merged forces of Class '67/83 dug deep in the extra-five minute period to join early qualifiers Young Builders '91 (6-1), Armour Wood '81/85 (6-1) and Eco-Tech Appliance '84/87 (4-4) into the next round while sending Class '92 into a timely summer vacation.
Dewfoam '88 and Asian Home Appliance '93 earned automatic berths into the semifinal phase for emerging as elimination round topnotches with identical 7-1 win-loss slates.
Stephen Tan topscored with 19 points on top of 10 rebounds four assists,two steals and two blocks, while the ageless Zotico Tan poured in 16 points, including six in the extension that buoyed Class '67/83 to a crucial victory.
Class '67/83 was in full command most of the way and even took a 10-point edge, 51-41, heading into the final canto, but Class '92 rallied back in the closing minutes to threaten at 52-55 with less then a minute left to play.
Class '83 could have sealed the victory in the dying seconds, but Cesar Ting muffed a potential game-clinching basket.
In the ensuing play, Class '92 top center Ryan Order hit a booming 3-pointer to knot the count at 55-all. They could have stole the win, but Richard Lanutan missed a layup with six seconds left in the regulation, thus, the overtime.
As Class '92 was apparently consumed by fatigue factor, the spirited Class '67/83 conjured all extra energy they could muster and interestingly, they got it from the oldest player in the league - the 59-year-old Zotico Tan, who delivered the killer blows on Class '92.
Ting added 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Christopher Cokaliong chipped in nine points, six rebounds and two steals for Class '87/83, which will face next the twice-to-beat Class '91.
While Class '67/83 was hardly affected by the absence of ace defender Edwin Lim, Class '92 felt the ill effects playing without its top scorer in Mitchel Diputado.
Ordes stepped up in Diputado's absence with 14 points and 18 rebounds for Class '92, Warren William Yu cashed in 12 points and 14 rebounds, while Lanutan and Michael Lim combined for 24 points in a losing cause.
The scores
Class '67/83 – (64)
S. Tan – 19
Z. Tan – 16
Ting – 12
Cokaliong – 9
H. Yu – 4
R. Yu – 2
Calagos – 2
Class 1992 – (61)
Ordes – 14
Lanutan – 13
W. Yu – 12
Lim – 11
Kong – 9
Ngo – 2