Carlo Lastimosa canned two charities with 11.9 seconds left as Biñan Tatak Gel rallied to nip South Cotabato, 70-69, on Thursday, Oct. 17, and force a Game 3 decider in their South Division quarterfinal series in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

The South Cotabato Warriors got two chances to reverse the outcome, but Jervy Cruz missed an open three and Marwin Dionisio flubbed a short jumper, enabling the Lagunenses to steal Game 2 after narrowly losing the opener, 82-85.

The series will return to the venue on Oct. 23 to determine which team will advance to the semifinal playoffs against Batangas, which swept Davao Occidental, 89-86, in another South quarterfinal series earlier.

Trailing by as many as 12 points after three quarters, Biñan threatened at 64-63 following a 13-2 run by JJ Pido, Jaymar Gimpayan and Philip Manalang.

South Cotabato countered on a jumper by Mark Cruz that trickled in and a triple that bounced in by JP Calvo, 69-63, with 3 minutes and 9 seconds to go, forcing Biñan Coach Boyet Fernandez to sue for time.

The Warriors went silent the rest of the way while the Lagunenses scavenged for seven points on three free throws by Nino Canaleta, a layup by Pamboy Raymundo and Lastimosa's game-clinching charities.

It was veteran Marc Pingris who clinched the Daily Fantasy best player honors, however, with a team-high 13 points and 3 rebounds.

Others who delivered for Biñan were Kenny Roger Rocacurva with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, Jaymar Gimpayan 10 points and 5 rebounds and Michael Heinrich Maestre 9 points and 6 rebounds.

South Cotabato, who ruled the boards, 45-35, got 13 points each from Larry Rodriguez and Val Acuna and 11 points from Jammer Jamito.

The Lagunenses survived despite converting only 2 of 12 triple attempts for 16.7 percent against the Warriors' 10 of 35 for 28.6 percent.

Batangas City Tanduay Rum banked on Philip Paniamogan's explosion in the fourth quarter to thwart Davao, 89-86.

Paniamogan pumped in all of his nine points in that span on two triples and a crucial off-balanced bank shot that halted the Tigers' final rally, 87-84, and pushed the Rum Masters to their sixth straight semifinal appearance in the two-division, 29-team tournament.

The Rum Masters also battered the Tigers in Game One, 79-66, to cut short the best-of-three series.

Levi Hernandez chalked 20 points, spiked by four triples, and was chosen the Daily Fantasy best player over Cedric Ablaza, who posted 13 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals for Batangas Coach Cholo Villanueva.

Other Rum Masters who delivered were Jong Baloria with 13 points plus 3 rebounds, Jeckster Apinan with 11 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists and Kris Porter with 10 points plus 5 rebounds.

The game was tight throughout with neither team leading by twin digits, although the Rum Masters were in control for 26 minutes and 59 seconds against the Tigers' 8 minutes and 41 seconds.

Davao got 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists from Terrence Tumalip, 11 points plus 5 assists from Mark Tallo, 19 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals from Art Dela Cruz and 10 points, 3 assists and 3 steals from Bonbon Custodio.

The MPBL playoffs resume on Monday, Oct. 21, with Zamboanga Master Sardines and Paranaque disputing another South semifinal seat at 7 p.m. at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City.