Four-peat champion Harbour Centre overpowered San Mig Coffee, 86-71, yesterday to stretch its amazing streak to 11 games in the PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at The Arena in San Juan City.
TY Tan, Jason Castro, Sol Mercado and Beau Belga all scored in double figures as the Batang Pier dominated the Coffee Kings throughout, keeping their unbeaten run nearing the final stretch of the eliminations.
The Coffee Kings moved out of the fight for an outright semifinals seat on their sixth loss against five wins.
The Batang Pier got off to a big start and sat on a 48-24 cushion at halftime. Harbour Centre led by as many as 27 points.
Earlier, Burger King erected a 25-point third quarter lead but had to repel a Noosa Shoes rally at endgame to eke out a 67-64 win.
The BK Whoppers stayed in the running for an outright semis entry on their seventh win in 13 outings.
“That was a close one. I’m glad we pulled it off,” said Burger King coach Allan Gregorio.
The Shoe Stars, who suffered their seventh loss against five wins, came charging back behind the torrid shooting of Noy Javier but ran out of time on their bid to salvage the game.
Down by only three, they were not able to get an attempt to send the game into overtime with Kelvin dela Pena dribbling the ball so long.
Javier scored 16 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter.