University of Negros Occidental Polvora’s Law Office and Fil-Sino Thunderbirds won in the quarterfinals of the 12th Tan Kek Pin Memorial Basketball Cup at Bacolod Tay Tung High School Po Hang Gym.

Ranked No. 5 going into the quarterfinals, UNO-R ousted No. 4 Rogers Province of Negros Occidental from contention with a surprising 91-75 victory, while No. 6 Fil-Sino scrambled past No. 3 Talisay City, 103-101, to force a rubber match that is being played as of presstime.

Polvora followed their gameplan to the hilt, allowing their gunners to find their mark with Joemel Paderog hitting five triples for 21 points to give UNO-R a 48-44 halftime lead. UNO-R was also opportunistic on fastbreak attacks to offset the height and heft advantage of the more seasoned Province cagers.

Jeff Jacinto delivered two back-to-back three-point plays to engineer a 10-2 opening third quarter run while Richer Santillan and Xylesis Herdon attacked the shaded area to keep Province at bay to preserve a 74-64 lead going to the last 12 minutes of the game.

Leo Batog , Rodel Canino and Joemarie Bayhon delivered the needed points for Rogers Province but their efforts were not enough to deny the UNO-R team a seat in the semifinals.

Jacinto relentlessly attacked the heart of the Province’s defense as he delivered 11 of the first 17 fourth quarter points for UNO-R to post a commanding 91-70 lead.

Refusing to yield easily, Province did not give up as Bayhon and Bat-og combined for 16-1 run to cut the deficit to 94-88 with 1:40 minutes left.

A buzzer-beat corner jumper from Mark Papa proved to be a backbreaker with 1:17 left and Tata Javillo’S layup off a steal 20 seconds later sealed the semis seat for UNO-R.

Polvora was led by Paderog with 27 points, Jacinto added 23, Santillan made 10, Javillo, Papa and Herdon with 8 points each.

Bat-og paced Province with 24 points, Bayhon scored 21, Canino made 18, Mark Ramos delivered 10, and Peewee Demonteverde had 8 points.

In the other quarterfinals match-up, Talisay and Fil-Sino engaged in several lead changes in the first half, until Talisay scored nine straight points with 7 points coming from Mamerto Santillan for an 8-point lead.

Fil-Sino responded with five straight points from Johnnyson Yu to cut the deficit to 47-50 at halftime.

Fil-Sino opened the third quarter on a 12-0 run anchored on the fastbreak layups by Carl Oquindo and Robbie Jalando-on, while Talisay got a boost from Atoy Salazar seven straight points going into the payoff period.

In the final minutes, Jalando-on and Arnold Gono conspired to extend the lead of Fil-Sino Thunderbird to 88-78. But a balanced Talisay offensive manage to catch up with Fil-Sino on a trey by Santillan to force a deadlock at 92-all with 2:10 left.

Jalando-on’s triple and Oquindo’s five free throws gave the Thunderbirds some breathing room at 100-93 with 1:04 left.

But Talisay won’t go away as Santillan’s trifecta and Abaring’s offensive putback cut the lead to 2 points.

Donald Quilantang converted two free throws with 4.9 seconds left to ice the contest for Fil-Sino even as Santillan hit another trey at the buzzer for the final count.

Oquindo spearheaded the Thuderbirds offensive with 27 points, backstopped by Jalando-on with 21, Militante hauled down several rebounds and added 15 points, Gono and Kirell Brahndon Montalbo with 11points each.

Santillan finished with 22 points, Salazar shot 18, Abaring dropped 16, Rodgie Gelasan hit 12 points, Garrido scored 11, and Ervin De La Peña had 8 points.*with a report from Stephen Tan

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