Tanduay, Mobiline complete quarterfinal cast

Tanduay overcame an eight-point deficit in the last five minutes of play to turn back Pop Cola, 88-82, last night and barge into the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals via the backdoor at the Cuneta Astrodome.

In the second game, Mobiline repulsed Shell, 71-56, in their own sudden-death duel to gain the right to play elimination-round topnother San Miguel Beer in the quarterfinals.

Though unhealthy with injuries to ace players Bong Hawkins and Dindo Pumaren, the Rhum Masters survived the Panthers in a fierce showdown in their knockout match, advancing to the final eight versus the second seeded Purefoods Hotdogs.

Coach Derrick Pumaren rotated only six players in the final half but all rose to the occasion as Tanduay avenged its 88-99 loss to Pop Cola last June 16, thus, sending the Panthers to an early vacation in the mid-season tournament.

"We didn’t break down although we fell back by eight in the fourth quarter. We regrouped as the boys refused to be beaten," said Pumaren after they hurdled the Panthers in a match marked by 10 deadlocks and 11 lead changes.

"Hopefully, the boys won’t be satisfied by this victory. We have a tough matchup in Purefoods and I hope our win tonight will carry us through in the quarters," he added.

The game was so close that neither team led by more than eight points.

The Panthers took an eight-point spread at 76-68 only to suffer a total breakdown in their game in the last five minutes of play as they fell by the wayside on a fourth straight defeat.