PC Gilmore saw its 19-point edge vanish, then survived two game-winning attempts from Pharex as the Wizards still eked out a 99-97 decision against the Bidang Generix on Tuesday in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) D-League Foundation Cup at the Lyceum gym.
Allan Mangahas, who led PC Gilmore's third-quarter breakaway, tallied 20 points while Carlo Lastimosa added 15 as the Wizards endured the big comeback by Pharex.
The Bidang Generix came back strong in the fourth and could have won the game had JR Tecson and Chester Taylor sunk either of their game-winning triple tries in the final few seconds of the game.
"Nawala ‘yung disiplina nila, I think they panicked noong nakita na nilang humabol, which is a natural reaction of a young team. But it is a good lesson for us early in the tournament," said PC Gilmore coach Richard Del Rosario.
The Wizards notched their second straight win while the Generix lost for the first time in the tournament. PC Gimore, Pharex and the North Luzon Expressway Road Warriors are tied on top of Group A with 2-1 slates.
PC Gilmore will face NLEX next week.
Mangahas didn't look tired after playing for Mapua in the Fr. Martin Summer Cup earlier in the day, as he led the Wizards' furious attack in the third quarter, when PC Gilmore erected a 64-45 spread and ended the period with a 78-61 advantage.
Pharex, however, slowly chipped away at the deficit and got it down to only a point at 97-98 on James Mangahas' three-pointer.
Lastimosa then split his free throws to give the Wizards a 99-97 lead with 16.3 seconds left in the game.
But Tecson missed Pharex's first attempt to escape with the win, while Taylor's three-point try also went off-target at the buzzer.
Edwin Asoro nd James Deutchman, who also had 17 rebounds, tallied 14 points for the Bidang Generix while James Mangahas added 13 markers.
In the first game, the Maynilad Water Dragons cruised to a 106-74 win over the Café France Scorpions.
Garvo Lanete scored 12 of his 21 points in the second quarter, while Jose Lim had 19 and Dave Marcelo added 10 markers, nine rebounds and three blocks.
The Water Dragons, who improved to a 2-1 mark for third place behind unbeaten Cobra Energy Drink and Cebuana Lhuillier, took a commanding 57-37 halftime lead.
Café France remained winless after three matches.
Reuben Terrado, GMA News TV
