Games Tonight
Po Hang Gym
6:30 p.m. BBC vs. Magnolia
7:45 p.m. New ST Marketing vs. Talisay

With their backs against the wall, Wednesday night, BBC and Magnolia Nutri-oil managed to pull off contrasting wins to forge do-or-die scenarios in the the 6th Tan Kek Pin Cup semis at the Po Hang Gym in Bacolod City.

Boosted by the return of slotman Robert Buñol and coach Elvis Atinado, BBC brought down erstwhile unbeaten Talisay Basketball Athletic Club, 106-96, to stay in contention for a finals slot. Magnolia later set the stage for tonight's games do-or-die encounters, after routing New ST Marketing, 86-65. The four semifinalists hold identical 1-1 records.

Interestingly, Magnolia and BBC battle for the first championship slot at 6:30 p.m., before Talisay and New ST Marketing collide for the second finals berth.

The winners of tonight's encounters start their Best-of-Three final series at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

After missing BBC's 93-75 loss to New ST Monday night, the 6-foot-3 Buñol imposed himself against Talisay, scoring 15 points to earn Immuvit Player of the Game honors.

Buñol, Joebert Pastias and Allan Jaena put the finishing touches in the victory as they combined for a closing 7-1 run to hold off Talisay.

Roberto Duran started the fourth period with two triples to give BBC an 84-76 lead, but TBAC responded with a 9-0 run behind Joey Caduhada and Nonoy Hugnatan, who tossed a game-high 17 markers.

Buñol, however, restored order to the offense, giving BBC a 90-89 lead and Pastias, who finished with 16 points, came through with five points, sandwiched by Eric Deloria's follow-up for a 97-93 cushion with 3:26 left.

Pastias and Buñol actually led BBC's second quarter assault that saw them take the upperhand at halftime, 49-47, after a 28-22 first quarter deficit.

Hobbled by an ankle sprain suffered against Magnolia, former Tan Kek Pin MVP Edgar Junto of Talisay went scoreless in the fourth period, prompting Hugnatan to bear the brunt in the offense.

Duran chipped in 13 points, while Deloria and Jaena contributed 10 each. Deo Ayagan and Eugene Yap scored 13 and 12 points, respectively for Talisay with playing-coach Oca Aquino adding 10.

Magnolia Nutri-oil built a commanding 26-8 advantage with reigning MVP Warren Alintano and Richard Verayo puncturing the shaky defense, before Airon Pilado bullied his way inside the paint in the second period as the lead ballooned to 31 points, 48-17.

Visibly out-of-synch, New ST Marketing barely scuttled Magnolia in the second half. Alintano won Immuvit player of the game honors with 18 points with Verayo and Chan finishing with 9 apiece. Peewee Demonteverde had 21 points for New ST but failed to get ample support. Eugene Tsai added 8 points. *CPT

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