MANILA, Philippines - Unheralded Jayson Ibay came through with a rare four-point play as Jumbo Plastic completed a thrilling 75-72 win over Euro-Med in the PCBL Chairman’s Cup.
Ibay, one of the new recruits this conference, played the hero’s role in the last 1.8 seconds in steering the Linoleum Giants to their sixth win in 10 games.
Jumbo Plastic firmed up its hold of the second spot and snapped Euro-Med’s four-game winning run.
Euro-Med fell into a three-way tie for fourth to sixth spots with Foton and Sta. Lucia at 4-5 in the tournament supported by LGR, Hahn Manila, Gerry’s Grill, During’s Barbeque and Restaurant, Ambucore and Spalding.
“He was playing so well. So I decided to put him back in baka may magandang mangyari,” said Jumbo Plastic coach Stevenson Tiu.
Trailing by three, 69-72, Ibay drew a foul from Ralph Salcedo then sank a trey. He completed the big play with a bonus charity to pit his team back on the driver’s seat, 73-72.
SCTEX scored its second straight win by dumping Supremo Lex, 80-66, in the other game.