Saints gain F4; Scratchers stay alive

MANILA, Philippines — Joshua Fontanilla took charge at endgame and St. Clare College-Virtual Reality broke through with a first-ever PBA D-League Final Four entry in drubbing Metropac-San Beda, 65-60, at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig yesterday.

Fontanilla scored all of St. Clare’s last six points, including a killer 15-foot jumper and four free throws that quashed the Movers’ rally.

“We played badly but, good thing, Joshua stepped up,” said Jinino Manansala as they disposed of Metropac-San Beda to advance to the semis versus the winner of the Go for Gold-Centro Escolar U quarterfinals matchup.

Earlier, Go for Gold-CSB survived a massive meltdown, thwarting CEU, 84-81, to force a rubber in their quarters face-off.

Returnee Gab Banal bailed the Scratchers out of trouble as he swished in the go-ahead trey in the final 20 seconds.

“I’m happy that we’re still alive,” said Scratchers coach Charles Tiu. “We probably deserve to lose the game. We were up big and it seems like we never learn. The maturity is still not there.”

As the higher seed, CEU enjoys a twice-to-beat edge versus CSB.