Viva stays in hunt, outlasts Montaña

Viva Mineral Water outgunned and outhustled Montaña Pawnshop in the fourth quarter as it pulled off a 79-73 victory yesterday to remain in the hunt for a semifinal berth in the PBL Platinum Cup at the Pasig Sports Center.

Dennis Miranda and Arwind Santos scored seven points each in the final period as the Water Force outscored the Jewels, 49-16, to notch their third win in nine outings and keep their flickering semis hopes alive.

Miranda finished with 15 points while Santos, a rookie out of Lubao, Pampanga, had 11 and four rebounds and three shot blocks, all in the last period as the Water Force dealt the Jewels their third straight loss and fifth overall against four wins.

"We told ourselves before the game not to have exchange gifts because we want this game as our gift to each other," said Viva coach Koy Banal, who steered Far Eastern University to three titles this year, including the UAAP.

"I’m happy the boys kept their word and responded to the challenge."

The victory also produced a lot of heroes.

There was the frontline pair of Gerard Jones and Mark Isip, who chipped in four points each in the last period to combine for 17 markers along with 13 rebounds.

There was also rookie RJ Rizada, who came off the bench to fire 11 points, five in the final three minutes that help defuse Jewelers’ fightback.

Warren Ybañez and Sunny Margate also made good account of themselves with the former helping Miranda in the backcourt to anchor the big fourth quarter run and the latter putting up a fine defensive effort he capped with crucial steals down the stretch.

Margate also held Gary David, MVP of the 2003 Unity Cup, to just a point in the final 10 minutes after the latter erupted for 14 in the first three quarters.

With David and Al Magpayo doing most of the damage, the Jewellers took control to take a commanding 45-31 upperhand at the start of the third.

Montaña sat on a 57-50 cushion heading into the last period before Viva, runners up to Fash in the first conference, came out smoking in the fourth period.

Sunkist-University of Santo Tomas leaned on Jemal Vizcarra’s fourth quarter explosion as it stunned defending champion Welcoat Paints, 89-83, to clinch the second semis berth.

With Alex Compton struggling, Vizcarra stepped up and fired 10 of his 25 points in the final period, including a pair of triples down the stretch that sealed the Tigers’ seventh victory against fourth defeats.

It was the Paint Masters’ second defeat against eight wins.