THIRD ranked 4JS-Asahi Beer defeated No. 6 Madz–Manila Beer, 97-89, while J Squared-Colt 45 survived a late charge from Iron Elk/Young Lions-Tanduay Ice, 77-76, in the quarterfinals of the Fil-Sino Asia Brewery Cup last Tuesday at the BTTHS Po Hang Gym.
Sonny Abaring nailed his first free throw and intentionally missed the second free throw to preserve the win for J Squared.
J Squared held a 62-52 lead going to the fourth quarter, but Bambam Gilbor and Jaybee Alic engineered a rally to catch up with Gilbor’s triple tying the score at 76 all. But the Young Lions could not stop the lanky Abaring who was fouled with a second left in the game.
Abaring paced J Squared with 18 points, Jerald Abrot shot 11 points, Peewee Demonteverde made 9 points, Ryan Jacinto delivered 8 points, Chad Paez and JearNiñal with 6 points apiece.
Gilbor connected on six triples for 24 points, Alic added 18 points, JR Garganera with 9 points, Cieremor Taronas made 8 points and Boody Perez shot 7 points.
In the curtain raiser, 4JS took the lead at the break, 46-43, behind Elvin Diaz’s 15 points and Warren Alintano’s 11 points against Madz Niko Capote’s 10 points, and Irvin De La Peña and Boyet Rozales with 8 points apiece.
4JS pushed the lead to double digit in the third quarter, 69-59, behind Diaz and CA De La Torre combining for 14 points with Ronzales hitting 8 points for Madz.
Madz, in a last ditch effort, produced 30 points in the payoff quarter with De La Peña scoring 11 points and Ronzaleshad 8 points. But 4JS countered with a balance offense led by Diaz who connected on three triples to seal the semifinals slot for 4JS.
Diaz sizzled with 34 points, Alintano delivered 13 points, Justine Baldonado hit 10 points, John Matheew Benieves and De La Torre made 8 points each.
Ronzales led Madz with 24 points, backstopped by De La Peña’s 21 points, Capote added 16 points and Madrigal with 14 pts.
In the semifinals, top-seed FyrFyter-Heineken will face off with J Squared and Shakeys–Cobra Smartwill tangle with 4JS. (HGD)