MANILA, Philippines – Rey Nambatac took charge in the final stretch while Kent Salado responded to his coach's challenge as the Racal Tile Masters held off Cignal-San Beda, 100-90, on Monday at the Filoil Flying V Centre to send their PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Finals series into a deciding Game 3.
The Tile Masters needed to repulse a late rally from the Hawkeyes to preserve the victory, with Nambatac knocking down the dagger three-pointers in the fourth frame to finish with 24 points, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
Jackson Corpuz contributed 20 points and 11 rebounds for Racal.
"It's a big thing for us that those three played below their average today," the coach stressed.
Salado, who was called out by Codiñera after a clunker in Racal's Game 1 loss to Cignal-San Beda, responded by scoring 15 points while Joseph Gabayni had his best game to date, with nine points and 10 rebounds.
The Tile Masters were comfortably ahead, 57-38, in the second frame, but Bolick, fresh of winning MVP honors, teamed up with Perkins to help Cignal claw back into the game.
The Hawkeyes came to within five points, 62-67, with still 4:02 left in the third period, and it appeared that the game was headed for a tight finish.
However, Corpuz and Salado conspired to end the quarter on a 14-7 run, to restore an 81-69 advantage for the Tile Masters.
Nambatac then put the finishing touches on the win with a couple of three-pointers in the fourth frame.
"Dapat handa ka whenever they go on a surge," said Codiñera. "We have to arrest that, and today, nagawa naman namin."
Bolick finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while Pamboy Raymundo had 17 points built on 3-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc.
The winner-takes-all Game 3 is set on Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The scores:
RACAL 100 - Nambatac 24, Corpuz 20, Salado 15, Gabayni 9, Torres 8, Capacio 5, Dagangon 5, Flores 4, Onwubere 4, Cabrera 3, Mangahas 3, Gabawan 0, Gumaru 0, Terso 0.
CIGNAL 90 - Bolick 18, Raymundo 17, Perkins 13, Potts 11, Bringas 8, Mocon 7, Villarias 7, Adamos 3, Arboleda 3, Oftana 3, Arong 0, Batino 0, Cahilig 0.
(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.)
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