PBL: Toyota-Balintawak beats Mail & More, 77-68

Toyota Balintawak Roadkings blanked Mail & More down the stretch to post a 77-68 triumph Saturday and earn the last quarterfinal incentive in the 2008 PBL V-Go Extreme Energy Drink Cup. The league said that De La Salle University forward Cholo Villanueva sparked a short but telling 6-0 endgame run by the Roadkings to seal their one-game playoff with the Comets at The Arena in San Juan. Until their collapse, the Comets were very much into the ballgame, 71-68, following two free throws by Marcy Arellano with 4:22 left. The victory assured the Roadkings of a twice-to-beat edge over the same Comets team in their quarterfinal showdown. San Mig Coffee Kings also won the same advantage against rookie team Pharex Medics in the other quarterfinal pairing. The season-opening tournament takes a three-week break starting Monday to give way to the country's campaign in the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. The quarterfinal phase resumes on December 18 also at The Arena. Jonathan Aldave topscored for 14 points, James Sena had 13 and Villanueva 11 for the Roadkings, who were stalled in their bid for the second twice-to-beat edge after being stunned by also-ran Bacchus Energy Raiders. "This win is a test of our character," said Toyota Balintawak coach Ariel Vanguardia. "Against Bacchus, we were caught flatfooted. But the players themselves vowed that we will bounce back today." The Roadkings trailed by as many as 27-19 midway in the second quarter, but Aldave fired 10 of his total in a 19-6 blitz – including two three-pointers - as Toyota Balintawak finally seized control, 38-33. The lead was stretched to its biggest at 68-58, before the Comets rallied and charged back to within two, 68-66. Casio hit a trey to give the Roadkings some breathing room, 71-66, but Arellano countered with two free throws at the other end to keep the game close entering the homestretch. Villanueva scored on back-to-back turnarounds and Brian Faundo made a lay-up as Toyota Balintawak hit six straight points to seal the win, 77-68. Nestor David finished with 12 points to pace Mail & More, which forced the playoff game following its 75-70 victory over Pharex. The scores Toyota Balintawak (77) Aldave 14, Sena 13, Villanueva 11, Faundo 8, Casio 7, Sta. Maria 6, Rodriguez 6, Jaime 4, Dedicatoria 3, Guerrero 3, Alcaraz 2, Cole 0, Jasul 0. Mail & More (68) David 12, Ballesteros 11, Misa 10, Santos 8, Arellano 8, Gregorio 6, Baracael 6, Canlas 3, White 2,Bonus 2, Co 0, Masbang 0, Bauzon 0. Quarterscores: 13-17; 38-33; 62-54; 77-68.