US five turns back fighting Blu Star

LUCENA CITY – USA-Bingo Bonanza hang tough down the last six minutes to turn back Blu Star Detergent, 76-71, last night for its second straight victory in the PBL RP-USA Goodwill Series at the Quezon Convention Center here.

Alvin Stephenson showed consistency so far in the series as he topped with 22 points while Gary Payton added 20.

However, it was 6’9 Terrence Super’s towering presence which bailed them out of the rivals’ blazing rally in the final quarter.

Trailing 51-57 after three quarters, the Detergent Kings’ rather physical game took the focus out of 6’5 Will Levy and managed to trim the gap by just a hairline, 61-62, on Lou Gatumbato’s triple with 6:09 remaining in the game.

Super took over Levy’s chores and got the team back on track as he joined Payton, Kalani Fereria and Gary DiGrazia in a 12-4 run that pulled the visiting Americans up anew at 74-65, with 2:47 left.

Troubles bogged Blu going in the stretch as Gatumbato and Eric de la Cuesta missed crucial attempts, as victory was virtually sure for USA-Bingo Bonanza after Stephenson drilled in both his freethrows of Rey Mendez, 76-67, with 1:14 to go.

Two charities by Blu’s new recruit Randy Lopez off Levy and Gatumbato’s buzzer-beating jumper sealed the final tally.

Only De La Cuesta scored in double figures for Blu with 16 points.

And with the big win, the visiting Americans appeared ready for vengeance when they meet RP-Cebuana Lhuillier anew on Saturday at the Lipa Youth and Sports Center.