Top seeds Absolute Distilled Water and Beer na Beer played with the urgency to ensure that no upset will happen in their rematch with their fourth seeded opponents in the Fil-Sino Asia Brewery Inc. Invitational Cup at Bacolod Tay Tung High School Po Hang Gym in Bacolod City.

Beer na Beer overcame a first half deficit to hammer an 84-71 victory against Cobra Energy drink.

The game between Cobra and the Beermen started out the same way as last game with Cobra in the driver's seat by halftime, 40-37, behind thumbs play from Julius Teruel and Romar Desusa while Brian Tan and Glin Ortaliz anchored BNB's offense.

After both teams played to a standoff for the first five minutes of the third quarter, BNB pulled away with their fastbreak attacks ignited by Frederick Ong and Ortaliz for a 65-52 lead at the end of the quarter.

The BNB scoring surge went on as lead ballooned to 19 points as Cobra tried to contain the attack with its outside shooting.

Cobra managed to cut the lead to 11 points but BNB remained ahead up to the final buzzer.

Beer Na Beer was led by Ong with 18 points while Ortaliz added 17, Berto Uy contributed 13, Tubby Villanueva made 11 points and Brian Tan had 10 points.

Teruel spearheaded Cobra's losing effort with 16 points while Desusa backed him up with 13, Chris Lim hit 10, Stephen Tan knocked down three triples for 9 points and Ralph Richard Tan chipped in 8 points.

In Class A rubber match, Absolute built a 19-point first quarter lead to run away with a 92-74 victory against Crossfit Creamy Yogurt.

Itching for a payback after losing in their first encounter, Absolute sizzled with 38 points in the opening minutes while limiting Crossfit to 17 points as Ren Ren Lacson and Ritchie Militante scored 10 points apiece while Robbie Jalando-on and Kenderson Hao delivered 8 points each.

Crossfit cut the deficit at the half, 51-37, as Pol Morales and Charles Del Castillo produced five points each.

But duo of Carl John Oquindo and Jalando-on conspired for 17 points for a commanding 75-50 lead going to the payoff quarter.

Oquindo paced Absolute with 21 points, Jalando-on tallied 17, Lacson hit 16, Militante picked up 13 points, Kenderson Hao and Rey Pandoro with 8 points each.

Morales finished with 14 points for Crossfit, Del Castillo churned in 10, Brian Coo made 9 points, and Leif Ledesma shot 6 points.*NAB

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