Kutitap surprises Welcoat

Cyrus Baguio finished what Allan Salangsang started as Kutitap Toothpaste slew powerhouse Welcoat Paints, 73-72, yesterday in the PBL Challenge Cup at the Makati Coliseum.

Baguio’s triple from the left baseline with 12 seconds to go turned out the clincher but it was Salangsang’s game-long heroics that actually carried the Teeth Sparklers to their sixth win in 12 outings.

The Paint Masters had a chance to steal the win but Ren Ren Ritualo’s desperation three-pointer failed to hit its mark.

Salangsang finished with a game-high 27 points, spiked by nine rebounds and two blocks, to help Kutitap deal Welcoat its first loss after four straight triumphs for an overall record of 7-5.

Kutitap was up by 17 points, 52-35, when Jojo Manalo of Welcoat ignited a big run that forged a deadlock at 70. Then Baguio hit the crucial triple for the win.

In the other game, ICTSI-La Salle banked on James Yap’s third quarter explosion as it scuttled Blu Detergents, 83-73, to remain on top of the heap with an 8-3 mark. Blu slid to 5-12. — Joey Villar<