Montana keeps hopes alive

Montana Pawnshop drew big games from Mark Macapagal and Jenkins Mesina as it walloped Kutitap Toothpaste, 79-76, yesterday to stay in the hunt for a quarterfinal berth in the PBL Challenge Cup at the Makati Coliseum.

A member of reigning NCAA champion San Sebastian College, Macapagal drained four triples and made nine foul shots to finish with 23 points while Mesina scattered 22 points as the Jewellers notched their third win in 11 outings.

While Mesina’s points came mostly from the shaded area, Macapagal made his mark in the perimeter, sinking practically all his attempts.

But it was Aries Dimaunahan’s three-point output — a looper and a split — that secured the victory for Montana, which must sweep its last three games to gain a spot in the next round.

Cyrus Baguio missed a buzzer-beating three-point shot that would have forced the overtime.

Despite his team’s superb shooting, Montana coach Arturo Valenzona said it was defense that anchored their victory.

"We played a big offensive game but I think it’s our crucial defensive stops in the endgame that gave us this win," said Valenzona.

It was the Teeth Sparklers’ sixth setback against four wins, which included a sweep of defending champion Shark Energy Drink.

Allan Salangsang paced Kutitap with 14 points while Nino Gelig and Baguio added 13 and 10 points, respectively.

ICTSI-La Salle stayed on top as it massacred Ateneo-Pioneer Insurance, 91-73, in the second game.

The victory was Archers’ seventh in nine games and they also avenged their 49-66 defeat in their first meeting last Nov. 24.

The Insurers absorbed their sixth loss against four wins. — Joey Villar