ML Kuarta forces 3-way tie at helm

CEBU CITY — ML Kuarta Padala defeated sister team M. Lhuillier Jewelers, 82-77, in a highly intense match to forge a three-way logjam in the Cebu Basketball League Crunchtime at the Cebu Coliseum here.

Hercules Tangkay topscored for the Forwarders with a game-high 20 points but it was former MBA star Bruce Dacia and Joselito Celiz’s crucial charities inside the final minute that sealed M. Lhuillier’s first setback in four games.

The game was so intense that two players were ejected for trading blows, coaches from opposing teams were seen exchanging harsh words and the Kwarta Padala bench was slapped with a technical after somebody threw a towel on one of the two referees.

Ex-pro Bong Marata hit a triple as the Jewelers closed within 78-77 going into the last minute. Dacia however countered a layup and Celiz split his freebies for the final tally.

ML Kuarta, M. Lhuillier and the North Cotabato squad of Gov. Manny Piñol, a 98-93 winner over Forward Taguig, now sport similar 3-1 cards.

Ariel Trumpeta showed the way for the North Cotabato Braves with 32 points.

North Cotabato and M. Lhuillier face each other for an outright seat in the final. North Cotabato, though, can still gain a final apperance in case of a loss if Kwarta Padala likewise bows to Montana in the last day of the elimination round.

In the other game, Davao City’s Montana Pawnshop notched its first win in four games after beating Forex Forwarders, 92-88.