THE EIGHTH-SEEDED Rain or Shine pulled the rug from under the previously unbeaten Dormakaba, 81-77, to force a do-or-die game in the Architects + Engineers Basketball Club Corporate Cup 2018 last Saturday at the USC gym.
With the season on the line, Rain or Shine pulled out all the stops to stun a rampaging Dormakaba squad that had previously won all seven of its games in the elimination round by double digits.
Montecristo Salvador typified the grit of Rain or Shine’s quintet as he scored 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Ronald Talasan added 17 while Raymond Verano also had a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards.
The rest of the higher seeds had no trouble moving on to the semifinals.
Second ranked Fenestram edged Phoenix, 63-62, while the third seeded Island Paints blew away Eastgrand, 73-50. Dexsel Candan paced Island Paints with 22 markers while Chester Hinagdanan added 17.
Reigning champions Sea Olympus also had little trouble eliminating Davies Paints, 89-61. Bong Gabison led the way for the victors with 26 points.
Sea Olympus will now wait for the winner of the knockout game between Dormakaba and Sea Olympus.
The other semis pairing will pit Fenestram against Island Paints.