Bora rips Fruitas for q’final berth

Games Tuesday (Blue Eagle Gym)

2 p.m. – EA Regen vs Boracay Rum    

4 p.m. – Big Chill vs Fruitas

MANILA, Philippines - Boracay Rum fought back in the second half and pounded out a 63-54 victory over Fruitas to clinch a quarterfinal berth and give idle Blackwater Sports the second outright semifinal seat at the close of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup elims at the Ynares Arena in Pasig yesterday.

Jonathan Fernandez hit two triples in the fourth quarter while Jeff Viernes scored seven of his team’s last nine points as the Waves fought off elimination for a spot in the next round with a 7-4 card.

“Last night I realized we would be eliminated should we lose this game. So I told the boys “we got to win this game if we want to keep on playing.” I’m proud with the way they responded,” said Boracay Rum coach Lawrance Chongson.

The Waves wound up tied with the Shakers with both teams gaining twice-to-beat edges in the next round.

In other games, defending champion NLEX rolled to its ninth consecutive victory by subduing Jumbo Plastic, 81-70, while Informatics snapped a 10-game losing streak by beating Hog’s Breath, 81-66.

Byron Villarias came off the bench to shoot 14 points in the last three quarters, including four triples as the top-seeded Road Warriors topped the elims with a 9-2 record despite losing their first two games. RR Garcia also scored 13 points off the bench and Nico Salva had 12.