Cebu reaches MPBL South semifinals as Zamboanga forces Game 3
Limuel Tampus scored 12 fourth-quarter points for Cebu, while Levi Hernandez hit a late three-pointer to help Zamboanga beat Quezon Province.
Cebu Greats secured a place in the SportsPlus MPBL South Division semifinals by beating Batangas City Tanduay Athletics 70-67 at Batangas City Coliseum. In the other quarterfinal contest, Zamboanga SiKat defeated Quezon Province 67-64 to send their series to a deciding third game.
Fifth-seeded Cebu swept its best-of-three series against fourth-seeded Batangas, having won the first game 78-77. Limuel Tampus delivered 12 of his 14 points during the fourth quarter and collected six rebounds, earning Best Player honours.
Trailing 61-58, Cebu scored nine unanswered points through Tampus and Dhon Reverente. Mark Meneses finished with 10 points and 16 rebounds, while Wowie Escosio supplied 11 points. Batangas received 15 points from Ino Comboy and 14 apiece from Ced Ablaza and Rhinwill Yambing.
Against top-seeded Quezon, eighth-seeded Zamboanga moved ahead through a corner three-pointer from Levi Hernandez with 26.3 seconds remaining. Brandon Wilson subsequently sank two free throws with 3.3 seconds left to establish the final score.
Forthsky Padrigao led Zamboanga with 15 points, seven assists and four rebounds, taking Best Player honours. Paeng Are added 14 points, Wilson scored 13 and Hernandez contributed 11. Jason Opiso had 12 points for Quezon.
The deciding game will take place at Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City, where Quezon won the series opener 88-55 on October 7. The winner will face Cebu in the semifinals.
