Just when they thought they had built enough cushion after three quarters, 53-39, the Jewels suddenly turned cold and lost their rhythm, enabling the Snack Masters to fight back behind a stirring 14-0 run that tied the count at 53-all midway in the fourth quarter.
But the 2004 Open champions toughened up on defense in the last four minutes, limiting the Kornets, who gate-crashed into the semifinals by stunning heavy favorite Harbour Centre, to just five points.
"We know it’s going to be about defense. They played well defensively but we made crucial stops in the end," said Montaña coach Robert Sison.
Montaña, which topped the elims with a 9-2 card, guns for the final berth tomorrow at the Pasig Sports Center.
Reed Juntilla took charge for Montaña with 13 points while Alex Compton and Jondan Salvador tossed in 12 points apiece.
Compton, last conference’s finals MVP, struggled offensively but scored a key jumper and made two crucial free throws in the last 41 seconds while Salvador, last year’s MVP, completed a double-double performance with 10 rebounds.
JR Quinahan, who played college ball for Cebu champion University of Visayas, paced his Granny Goose with 15 points but no other Kornet came up with a double-digit output.
Despite the setback, Kornets coach Jun Tan remains hopeful of their chances.
"Sayang ‘yung game, pero hindi pa naman tapos at may pag-asa pa naman kami,’ said Tan, whose wards now need to beat the Jewels thrice in order to advance.
In the other game, defending champion Magnolia Ice Cream waylaid Welcoat Paints, 75-62, to even things up in their semifinal duel.
Kelly Williams outplayed fellow Fil-Am Anthony Washington by exploding for 19 points as the Wizards erased the Paint Masters’ one-game advantage.
Both squads will now need two wins to make it to the finals.