Game this Saturday (Cebu City Coliseum)
6 p.m. – Awarding Ceremonies
7 p.m. – Misamis Oriental vs No. 3

CEBU CITY – The Smart-Pampanga Buddies kept their semifinal hopes alive after scoring a come-from-behind 70-65 win over the Trace Laguna Stallions Thursday in the 2009 Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Super Leg at the Cebu City Coliseum here.

Former UE Red Warrior Hans Thiele scored nine fourth quarter points while leading scorer Nino Gelig hit the go-ahead basket with under two minutes to play as the Buddies arrested a two-game skid and avoided an early elimination.

Thiele finished with a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds in 27 minutes while Gelig, who made the basket off the defense of big man Ron Capati with 1:55 left for a 65-64 lead, topscored with 17 points and six boards for Pampanga.

The Buddies climbed up to a record of 1-2 to tie the idle Quezon Red Oilers for third place while the Stallions fell to a 0-3 mark in this tournament sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cebu Niños earlier blasted defending champion Misamis Oriental Meteors, 78-54, to earn an outright spot in the finals of the Super Leg.

In order to reach the quarterfinals, Pampanga faces the daunting task of beating the Niños and hoping that Laguna beats Quezon in the first game.

But a Quezon win, regardless of Pampanga's outcome, or a Laguna win by nine points will automatically eliminate the Buddies out of contention.

The scores:
PAMPANGA 70 – Gelig 17, Husted 13, Thiele 12, Magpayo 11, Aldave 6, Saguindel 4, Al. Espiritu 3, Asoro 2, Tan 2, An. Espiritu 0.
LAGUNA 65 – Losentes 14, Capati 13, Mangahas 13, Estrada 8, Legaspi 6, Musni 5, Pradas 3, Villaver 2, Angeles 1, Sanz 0, Grijaldo 0.
Quarters: 10-13; 29-32; 49-55; 70-65.