Marinero turns back Tanduay, makes semis

Games tomorrow (Semifinals)

3 p.m. – CEU vs Flying V

5 p.m. – Cignal HD vs Marinerong Pilipino

MANILA, Philippines - Diminutive Renzo Subido stepped up big-time in the fourth quarter and Robert Herndon took over down the stretch as Marinerong Pilipino rallied from 14 points down to stun third-seeded Tanduay, 65-64, and barge into the semifinal round of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig last night.

Subido poured in all his 11 points to spark a searing 17-2 Marinero rally in the first five minutes of the fourth while Herndon delivered the marginal basket and preserved the lead and the win with a big offensive rebound to cap their fightback from 38-52 deficit and seal a semis duel with the Cignal HD Hawkeyes.

Top seed Flying V and No. 4 Centro Escolar U clash in the other Final Four pairing.

The Skippers thus bucked the Rhum Masters’ twice-to-beat edge in the quarters while stretching their win streak to seven from a woeful 1-4 start in the elims.

Subido’s exploits shoved Marinero to a 63-58 lead but the Rhum Masters countered with six straight points by Jerwin Gaco to regain the lead at 64-63 with 2:50 left in the contest.

Herndon, in his second game with the Skippers after suiting up for Wang’s Basketball, then scored on a putback off his own miss then collared two defensive rebounds off two bungled shots by Tanduay’s Lester Alvarez and hauled down the offensive board on the Skipper’s last play with 13 seconds left.