Sta. Lucia, Caida repel rivals, near PCBL finals

MANILA, Philippines - Sta. Lucia Realty and Caida Tiles hacked out a pair of hard-earned victories to move closer to a finals showdown in the PCBL Founders Cup at the JCSGO gym in Quezon City Thursday night.

Mac Montilla came through with clutch baskets as Sta. Lucia edged Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, 72-68, to take the opener of their best-of-three semifinals series while Caida Tiles turned back Euro-Med, 87-81, in their own side of the Final Four in the tournament supported by Accel, Ambucore, Spalding and Aquabest.

The Realtors and the Tile Masters go for the clinchers today, also at the JCSGO gym.

Montilla hit a triple with 53 seconds left to shatter the game’s last deadlock at 67. The Linoleum Giants tried to retaliate but Macky Acosta’s shot from beyond the arc failed to hit the mark.

Jumbo Plastic still stayed in the game after Jeff Viernes drew a foul from Sta. Lucia guard Kent Salado in the ensuing play but settled for a split, enabling Sta. Lucia to keep a two-point edge with 34 seconds left in the contest. 

But the Realtors pounced on the Giants’ sloppy defense, setting up 6-foot-6 center Jun Gabriel for an easy short stab and James Martinez’s desperation trey at the other end misfired as Sta. Lucia secured the win.

Earlier, Jiovani Jalalon fired 20 points and finished with six assists, four rebounds and two steals as Caida Tiles foiled Euro-Med to likewise move within a win of advancing to the finals.