Welcoat Paints knocked out Kendi Mint and clinched the first slot in the semifinal round of the second Yakult-PBL Challenge with an emphatic 65-49 win yesterday at the Makati Coliseum.
The elimination-round topnotcher with only two losses in 13 games, Welcoat proved a tough nut to crack for Kendi Mint as the Paintmasters ousted the Confectioners to make it to the final four ahead of the other qualifiers.
Defending champion Ana Water Dispenser went to Paolo Mendoza in the fourth quarter as it eked out a come-from-behind 53-51 victory over Boom Detergent to join Welcoat in the semis.
Mendoza, Sta. Lucia's top pick in last Sunday's PBA draft, scored eight of his 11 points in the final quarter, including a triple in the last 16 seconds that shoved the Water Dispensers to a 52-51 lead after trailing by as many as 12 points in the second quarter.
Renren Ritualo fired seven of his 14 points in the fourth quarter and the Paintmasters broke free from a tight contest, pulling off the decisive win as the team stepped up its bid to sweep the two Yakult Challenge tourneys.