Guard Nikko Panganiban provided the scoring punch as No. 1 San Juan showed the door on No. 8 Manila with a 95-84 victory last Monday night in their quarterfinals duel in the Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League Pro Division Second Conference Dumper Cup at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Panganiban totaled 24 points, to go with four rebounds for the twice-to-beat Kings, while Rence Nocum added 12 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists.
AC Soberano and Egie Boy Mojica also had 11 and 10, respectively for San Juan, which advanced to the semifinals opposite the winner of the Last 8 showdown pitting the No. 4 Pampanga G Lanterns and fifth-ranked Sta. Rosa Laguna.
The G Lanterns, armed with a win-once incentive, clashed with the Lions at press time last night.
In the other game, third seed Pampanga Royce Hotel whipped No. 6 Batang Kankaloo-Caloocan 91-77 to also advance to the semis of the tilt presented by Dumper party-list, Winzir, and Skin Care Depot, co-presented by SCD Cosmetics, and supported by NET 25, Adcon, Wcube Solutions Inc., MDC, Unisol, Don Benitos, and Finn Cotton, with PBA and Gilas Pilipinas great Marc Pingris serving as Commissioner.
Jolo Mendoza shot 4-of-8 from deep and finished with 23 points, two rebounds, and two assists for Pampanga Royce, while reigning NCAA MVP Will Gozum had 17 points and two rebounds.
Rhinwil Yambing also added 11 and four for Pampanga Royce, which will face either No. 2 and defending champion Davao Occidental-Cocolife or seventh-ranked Boracay.
The Tigers battled the Islanders also last night.
The scores
First game
PAMPANGA ROYCE 91 – Mendoza 23, Gozum 17, Yambing 11, Bahio 7, Liwag 7, Huang 7, Villapando 6, Palencia 4, Cullar 3, Verano 3, J. Flores 2, Navarro 0, Baetiong 0, Sangco 0.
BATANG KANKALOO-CALOOCAN 77 – Cervantes 20, Espinas 14, Sanga 9, Orquina 9, Tayongtong 9, Gonzales 7, Laude 5, Caranguian 2, Valin 2, Galicia 0, Santos 0, Manalang 0, Ariar 0, Cinco 0.
Quarters: 19-22, 42-41, 66-61, 91-77.