Eager to make a good showing after missing the whole of this year’s Chairman’s Cup due to knee and ankle injuries, David torched the Cheeseballs with 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter that sent the Jewellers to the knockout finals.
"Gary just hit the shots that mattered most, he really wanted to play in the finals," said Montana coach Ronnie Dojillo, who took over the coaching reins from Arturo Valenzona.
Montana plays the winner of the Blu All Purpose-Cebuana Lhuillier semifinal duel, currently being played at presstime, tomorrow in a knockout showdown for the crown in this month-long event featuring teams from the PBL and CBF.
Late Saturday, the Detergent Kings, the reigning champions, smashed the Jewellers, 93-72, to make the final cut in the semis. Lou Gatumbato, Eric Dela Cuesta and Aries Dimaunahan starred in the win as the three conspired in turning what was once a close contest to a ghastly rout.
Regent-Shark, whose veterans just could not get their games going, will have to settle for third place, that is, if it could beat the loser of the Blu-Cebuana game.
Egged on by a wild-cheering local city folks, mostly Montana employees, the Jewellers started it out well, taking control in the first two quarters when they erected a 40-30 lead at the break.
Jam Alfad, a vital cog in San Sebastian’s back-to-back titles from 2001 to 2002, powered his way in the shaded area as he led a run that saw Montana seize a 59-39 upperhand midway in the third period.
Jan Coching and Ernani Epondulan teamed up to spearhead a slow but effective run as Regent-Shark trimmed its deficit down to 10, 62-72, four minutes gone in the final canto before David hit the back-breaking shots.
Rysal Castro and Warren Ybanez, part of the Shark team that stunned Welcoat Paints in the 2001 Challenge Cup finals, were non-factors.
The 6’6" Castro had eight points but was shut down in the last two quarters while Ybanez scattered five markers in the fourth quarter but could not hit the shots when his team needed it most.