Cooking Oil Masters waver but pull thru

Reigning national and interclub champion Spring Cooking Oil blew a 20-point lead but steadied in the closing minutes to trim CUSA titlist Las Piñas Colleges, 74-69, and nail its second straight victory in the PCSO first President Diosdado Macapagal basketball tournament yesterday at the Rizal Memorial coliseum.

Rodel Manuel scored five of his 17 points and Tyrone Bautista sank a 3-pointer in the last three minutes to help the Cooking Oil Masters regain the lead, 68-65, after they had lost a 47-27 halftime spread.

Spring tripped Forward Taguig, 82-79, while Air 21-PCCr downed NCAA champion San Sebastian College, 101-97, after LPC had toppled UST, 75-71, in Tuesday’s opening matches.

"It’s a big boost to our second title bid in two weeks," said Spring coach Tito Palma after the game.

The LPC boys banked on their running game to outscore the Cooking Oil Masters, 25-11, in the third