Giv notches 3rd quarterfinal berth

Giv Beauty Soap came up with key defensive stops down the stretch as it turned back Ateneo-Pioneer Insurance, 74-73, last night to clinch the third quarterfinal slot in the PBL Chairman’s Cup at the Makati Coliseum.

It was the fifth victory in eight games by the Soap Masters, who virtually clinched the seat in the next round due to a better quotient in the event of a triple tie for third with Welcoat and Pharmaquick, which have identical 4-3 (win-loss) slates.

"We played tough defense in the crucial stretch because we need this win very badly," said Giv coach Nat Canson.

It was a sorry loss for the Insurers, who actually had three chances to steal the victory but found themselves being ousted from the race in the winners’ bracket.

Francis Sanz knocked in four points, including the marginal basket for Giv, which trailed in the first three quarters before it put its act in the stretch to pull off the win.

Sanz, who also pulled down seven rebounds, scored on a layup off an assist from Ogie Gumatay in the final 1:31, shoving the Soap Masters to the lead after Rich Alvarez put the Insurers on top for the last time with two charities.

Edwin Bacani topscored for Giv with 21 points while Egay Billiones and Marlon Kalaw added 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Earlier in the day, Xavier Nunag fired 14 points while Robson Bernancin tossed in 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to power UP-Waterfront to a 63-54 victory over University of Assumption in the first Crystal Spring PYBL Title Cup.

The Hoteliers thus bounced back from a 63-55 loss to the Regent Cheeseballs the other day as they tied their victim at 3-1 (win-loss).— With report from Sandro Paredes