PAOLO TAHA and Jett Vidal each scored 13 points and PC Gilmore capitalized on a strong start to deal Blackwater a crushing 83-61 defeat yesterday in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Meralco gym.
The Wizards improved to 4-5 (win-loss) with their fourth consecutive victory that provided a silver lining to an improbable run to the quarterfinals after a 0-5 start.
PC Gilmore winds up its elimination round campaign on Tuesday against Boracay Rum (4-5), a team that also hopes to clinch a spot in the next round.
In the other game, NLEX manhandled RnW Pacific Pipes, 106-76, for its sixth consecutive victory.
The Foundation Cup champions (7-1) were in control of the match from start to finish. They have a chance to wrest the lead from Cebuana Lhuillier (8-1) when the two teams face each other in an anti-climactic duel on Jan 12.
The Gems have secured its place in the semifinals when Café France stunned Freego Jeans (6-3) on Monday. RR Garcia made 6 of 7 3-point shots and finished with 22 points for the Road Warriors, who are virtually assured of the second outright semifinal berth unless they drop their last two games.
Pacific Pipes fell to 4-4 and hard-pressed to win their last two games to cement its place in the next quarterfinals. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio