Julius Prietos and Ramon Sapa combined for 28 points to carry D’Axial Engineering past Tangub Riders, 71-66 to arrange a titular showdown against X BAC in the Basketball Unified Sports Group quadrangular meet.

Ed Cruz, who topscored for Riders, hit a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left in the game and stopped D’Axial momentum, 67-66 in favor of the Engineers.

But luck seemed to favor for the Rene Antones-mentored Engineers as Cruz fell with leg cramps after hitting the rainbow shot and had to let his teammates finish the game without them.

Tangub also missed 12 of its 21 free throws in the last quarter and missed eight shots in the last stretch that could have turn the tide in their favor.  The Riders trailed at 29-31 at the half after taking the lead in the early stage of the game.

Armando Soberano made 12 points while Bert Pabon drilled in 10 markers to keep D’Axial’s offense going.

With the win, Antones and Engineers will face Bing Soyao’s X BAC on Friday at 8 p.m. after the 6:30 p.m. Tangub-BACIWA match for third place.

X BAC has in its roster Zaldy Navarra, Biboy Java, Edgar Espares and Rommel Hofileña and veterans Melvin Baclay, Nene Lapore, Siao Hua Ng and will be out to protect its unbeaten record in the tournament.*

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