Celino Cruz drilled in 14 of his 16 points in the final half, including four triples while Ranidel de Ocampo, Clarence Cole, and Leo Bat-Og added 12 points a piece as John-O broke away in the second half to thwart Skygo Riders, 87-67.
The Detergent Kings controlled the game from the start for an 88-62 win over GMC-Tortillos.
"Yesterday’s setback put us in a must-win situation. They were all geared up for an automatic slot into the next round, unfortunately our effort fell short," said coach Manny Dandan as John-O wrapped up its elimination campaign with the 2-1 card.
In the nightcap, Hapee Toothpaste emerged the first CBF team to get into the semis via an 84-75 victory over Regent Cheese Ball-Shark. Peter Jun Simon topped with 28 points, 26 of which in the first half alone as the Cebuano Teeth Sparkler quickly romped to a 45-28 half time margin and widened the gap to 66-51 at the end of the third canto.
The Cebuano led as many as 18 points, 74-56, 4:23 in the final frame.