Games Tuesday
Rizal Memorial Coliseum
2 pm - Bacchus Energy Drink vs San Mig Coffee
4 pm - Burger King vs Hapee Toothpaste

PATRICK Cabahug caught fire just in time and bailed Toyota-Otis out of danger in a come-from-behind 72-62 win yesterday in the PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at The Arena in San Juan.

The dead-shot Sparks guard, nephew of former PBA gunner Elmer Cabahug, knocked in all but two of his game-high 20 points in the payoff period, a stretch when nothing seemed to be going right for the team.

Cabahug punctuated his heroics by going 6-of-8 from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from three point range, to carry Toyota Otis to only its third win in nine outings.

He averaged just 8.6 points per outing prior to his breakout game Saturday.

“This is what I've been looking for from Patrick Cabahug. He was our main weapon the past conference and I know he's slowly getting into the flow of the game. I hope this is the start for him to really get into the groove," said Toyota Otis coach Ariel Vanguardia.

Noosa Shoes turned back Bacchus Energy Drink in the second game, 85-72, to snap out of a two-game losing skid.

Allan Evangelista had 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting, to lead five Shoe Stars (4-5) who scored in double figures.

The Raiders fell to 4-6 overall.

The 18 points Cabahug scored in the final quarter was just two points shy of tying the league record for most scored in one period owned by RenRen Ritualo (20) which he did while playing for Welcoat Paints.

The loss was the third in a row for the Whoppers (5-5). They led, 54-50, on back-to-back baskets by Mike Bravo before Cabahug decided to take matters into his own hands.

He drilled in five points in a 7-0 Sparks’ run, putting the team on top to stay, 60-54, midway in the fourth period.

A basket by Marcy Arellano and a Nestor David lay up cut the deficit to just two. But Cabahug wasn’t throught yet, nailing down back to back three-pointers to put the game away for good, 70-62.

Ervwin Sta. Maria matched Cabahug’s point production also with 20, had 8 rebounds and pumped in nine points in the third period as the Sparks’ cut a seven-point deficit at the half to 48-47 entering the final 10 minutes of play.

"This win is important for us since our next game will be against the RP Youth team. Our goal is to really win this game and try to create another winning streak," added Vanguardia who missed the services of Cholo Villanueva and Roel Baldos.

Villanueva, the former De La Salle guard, is currently on the injured list (knee contusion) and will likely miss the Sparks’ next game. Baldos meanwhile, is still recuperating after figuring in a stabbing incident recently.

David and Santos had 14 and 11 points for the Whoppers, who paid dearly for the 24 turnovers they committed which the Sparks translated to 22 points.