SPRING COOKING Oil outsteadied Mediatrix Telecoms in the endgame to score a come-from-behind 90-82 victory and move within a game of capturing the 2005 PICAA Open basketball tournament at the Philippine Buddhacare gym in Quezon City.
Gilbert Neo and MC Caceres provided the spark in a decisive 17-2 blast that enabled the Cooking Oil Masters of national shooter Nathaniel "Tac’’ Padilla to turn a 70-74 deficit into a commanding 87-76 lead going into the last two minutes.
Neo scored 10 of his 21 points in the payoff period, while Caceres added 15.
Spring goes for the title at 2:30 pm today in game 2 of the series sponsored by Hang Ten, Chloe Lightings, Absorba Sportswear and Tomish Café (Dapitan).
Mediatrix dictated the tempo of the game and even erected several eight-point leads in the third quarter. But the Cooking Oil Masters came back to life in the fourth canto.
If Mediatrix wins, the rubber match will be played on Tuesday.
King’s Bakeshop nipped Wang’s Ballclub-RTU, 96-94, in the other game to clinch third spot.
