MANILA, Philippines - Reil Cervantes fired 21, including the go-ahead baskets with 12.5 seconds left, and Rudy Lingganay came through with a steal as Max! Bond Super Glue held off Blackwater in frantic finish, 74-71, yesterday to barge into the semifinal round of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at The Arena in San Juan.
Cervantes and Lingganay’s endgame heroics saved the day for the Sumos, who blew a 12-point lead in the second quarter and sputtered down the stretch with a maze of errors, enabling the Elite to bounce back and wrest a 71-70 lead in the final minute.
But Cervantes, left open by the Elite who opted to defend the shaded lane, hit a 16-foot jumper and Lingganay knocked the ball away from behind Rocky Acidre, who fouled Jeric Teng in the process for the final tally.
“I didn’t think twice since I was left open,” said Cervantes of his game-winner in Filipino.
The Sumos will face the NLEX Road Warriors in the next round.