Montana nips Hapee Toothpaste

Montana Pawnshop leaned on Ismael Junio’s fourth quarter heroics as it survived defending champion Hapee Toothpaste, 76-75, yesterday to enhance its quarterfinal bid in the PBL Unity Cup at the Pasig Sports Center.

Junio exploded with 11 of his 17 points in the final period, including a triple over the outstretched arms of a taller defender with 1.8 seconds to go to seal the Jewellers’ third win in eight outings.

"Kahit hinabol at nilamangan na kami, hindi pa rin nag-panic ang mga bata. It really showed their character," said Montana coach Ronnie Dojillo, who is now 2-1 since taking over the coaching reins from Bong Go two weeks ago.

Indeed, Montana almost let the win slip away as it allowed a 16-2 run by Hapee to turn a 71-59 lead with a little over four minutes remaining to a 73-75 deficit with 16.9 seconds left.

Junio then came out of an Alwyn Espiritu screen but instead of creating space, he found a taller defender — 6-6 Clark Moore — and a chasing Emerson Oreta at his side.

But with time running down, Junio was forced to take the shot and got the game-winner to his credit as Hapee could not launch a decent shot at the other end.

Jon Dan Salvador started it out for Montana by sizzling for eight of his 14 markers in the third canto but he sufffered a sprain and was never the same when he came back in the fourth period.

Macapagal paced the Teeth Sparklers with 19 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, but missed a crucial foul shot in the stretch as they absorbed a third straight setback and fourth overall against three wins.

The Lamoiyan franchise had one more opportunity to steal the win but Bryan Tolentino blocked a long inbound pass by Eugene Tan from the backcourt and when Arjun Cordero recovered possession, he took an awkward shot that fell short as time ran out.

In the other game, Jenkins Mesina had a break out game as Blustar Detergent stunned Welcoat Paints, 77-74, for its second win seven outings.

It was the Paint Mastrs’ second defeat against six triumphs.