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GenSan recovers from ugly Q2, edges Cebu City

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--GenSan used a huge third quarter to hold off Cebu City, 70-66, in the MPBL Datu Cup at the Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor on Thursday night.

After being limited to just nine points in the second quarter, the Warriors bounced back with a 22-13 third quarter to take a 48-41 lead over the Sharks.

GenSan even threatened to pull away in the fourth, extending the lead to as high as 13, 60-47, with 4:18 to play.

With the Warriors holding to a 12-point cushion with 3:09 to play, the Sharks made an 11-1 run to come to within two, 61-63, with 40 seconds remaining.

But Leomar Losentes dropped a huge triple in the next play to up the lead back to five, 66-61.

Patrick Cabahug answered with his own triple to once again trim the gap to two, but Losentes quickly found Delmar Mahaling for the quick layup as GenSan is up four again with 17 seconds to play.

Rhaffy Octobre kept Cebu City in the game with a jumper that once again brought the team to within two points, 66-68.

But Losentes finally iced the game with two free throws with just five seconds remaining in the game.

Losentes and Mahaling each made 15 points for the Warriors, who moved up to 2-4 in the standings.

Cabahug's 21-point game went down the drain as the Sharks further sank to the bottom of the Southern Division standings at 1-6.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno