MANILA, Philippines - Ani-FCA outlasted MP Gensan, 77-72, to jumpstart its title bid in the seventh leg of the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) yesterday at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym in Manila.
The Cultivators took a 21-9 lead at the end of the first quarter but needed a strong finish to beat the Warriors of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao in the tournament jointly organized by the Philippine Basketball League and Liga Pilipinas.
James Sena and Magnum Membrere starred for Ani-FCA as they came through with clutch plays to notch only their fourth win in nine games in the event.
Sena, a former star of Jose Rizal University, shattered a 60-all deadlock with a power move before he made his own to help Ani-FCA fend off Gensan’s comeback.
After Gensan’s John Gonzaga cut the lead to one (64-63) on a triple, Membrere, a former Ateneo star, intercepted a long pass by Marvin Yambao before draining a three-point shot that extended the lead to four with two minutes remaining.