The Paint Masters subdued Spring Cooking Oil, 82-74, yesterday to arrange what promises to be another classic of a championship for the PBL Open Invitational plum at the Makati Coliseum.
Gametime is at 2 p.m.
Ace pointguard Celino Cruz scored 18 points, including 11 in the final quarter that scuttled the Cooking Oil Masters’ rally.
He also pulled down nine rebounds, dished out seven assists and had four steals.
Jun Dural and Ricky Ricafuente drilled in a triple each as the Cooking Oil Masters closed the gap at 70-78, 2:52 remaining in the contest.
But two consecutive Spring turnovers ruined the Cooking Oil Masters’ bid as Cruz and Yancy de Ocampo, who finished with seven points and 11 rebounds, came through with clutch baskets that made it, 82-70, 57 seconds left.
Ferdie Go backed up Cruz with 15 points while rookie Melvin Mamaclay added 12 points, eight rebounds and two shot blocks.
Ricafuente led Spring with 14 points, including four from the arc, while Mike Buendia added 11 points and 10 rebounds.