Late trey powers Racal vs Phoenix for solo lead

MANILA, Philippines – Philip Paniamogan buried a triple with three seconds left as Racal battled back from eight points down to shock Phoenix, 90-88, and seize the solo lead in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig last night.

Paniamogan actually struggled from the long range majority of the way, hitting just one of six but knocked in the trey that mattered most over Roger Pogoy’s outstretched arms as the Tile Masters snatched the win and the solo lead at 8-2.

“I’m happy with how we finished the game,” said Racal coach Caloy Garcia, who leaned on his second group to eke out the win, actually their second over the Accelerators, whom they clobbered, 93-78, in their first meeting last June 30.

?Dexter Maiquez paced the Tile Masters with 19 markers and five rebounds, while Billy Robles had 14 points, four boards, and three assists.

The two teams slugged it out in a seesaw battle in the first three quarters, ending up tied in the first and third until the Accelerators threatened to pull away at 81-73 with 5:19 left to play.

But the Tile Masters fought back on a 14-4 tear capped by Joseph Terso’s triple as they grabbed the lead at 87-85 with 62 seconds left before Ed Daquioag struck with his own trey to hand the lead back to Phoenix, 88-87.

Pogoy wound up with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Mac Belo had 20 markers and six boards for Phoenix, which fell to joint third with Tanduay at 7-3 behind second running Café France (7-2).