Ateneo stays in hunt, turns back Blu five

Ateneo-Pioneer Insurance kept its slim finals hopes alive as it stunned Blu Sun Power, 71-68, yesterday in the PBL Challenge Cup semifinals at the Makati Coliseum.

The Policy Makers held the Detergent Kings to just five points in the final six minutes of play while going six-of-15 in the stretch to pound out the win.

It was the first of four wins Ateneo-Pioneer needed to avail itself of the league’s 4-of-5 incentive for a playoff for the last finals berth although the team remains at the cellar with a 5-7 (win-loss) slate.

Blu, spreaheaded by 15 points each by Ernesto Billiones and Eric Dela Cuesta, absorbed its sixth loss in as many wins.

Hapee Toothpaste reasserted its supremacy over Montana Pawnshop as it fashioned out a 64-58 win in the other game. — Joey Villar