Mark Cruz delivered the goods for the Tanduay Rhum Masters, dropping 20 points to help his side score a slim 73-69 win over Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, Tuesday evening at the JSCGO Gym in Cubao, Quezon City.
Tanduay will now meet AMA Online Education in the quarterfinals, with the former enjoying the twice-to-beat edge. JRU, meanwhile, will be at sixth, bracing for the threat of three-seed Café France in their own series. Moreover, the Rhum Masters will enter the playoffs riding a three-game winning streak.
And it was a scene reminiscent of his collegiate days, as the former Letranite fired 12 of his team’s final 14 markers against the Heavy Bombers, while also adding seven assists and two rebounds.
“Live and die ako sa kanya,” said coach Lawrence Chongson of Cruz. “Maybe it’s also a good thing that I don’t have other playmakers and his minutes are getting extended.”
The 5-foot-6 gunslinger carried Tanduay in the fourth quarter as they shrugged off their early struggles in the second half and fought back from a nine-point hole, 38-29, early in the third period.
Jaymo Eguilos registered 14 markers and nine rebounds, while Jerwin Gaco added a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards. Bong Quinto got 11 markers and five rebounds for the Rhum Masters.
Joseph Marquez paced the Heavy Bombers (4-5) with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Tey Teodoro and Jhaps Bautista both got 15 markers in the loss.
The Scores:
Tanduay (73) – Cruz 20, Eguilos 14, Gaco 12, Quinto 11, Sanga 10, Santos 5, Sollano 1, Stevens 0, Varilla 0, Vigil 0, Villamor 0.
JRU (69) – Bautista 15, Marquez 15, Teodoro 15, Amboludto 9, Grospe 8, Poutouochi 5, Lasquety 2, Dela Virgen 0, Publico 0.
Quarterscores: 16-14, 29-35, 56-57, 73-69.
