Gardner and the Fukushima Firebonds got swept by the Kobe Storks in the B.League Division 2 Finals last 17 May, losing both the championship and the chance to be promoted to Division 1.
Jones, who played for Meralco since the elimination round, posted only 22 points, 15 rebounds, and three assists in their Game 3 loss. More importantly, he failed to dominate an import-less team.
CJ Cansino redeemed himself from a costly missed shot in the last game by booming in a clutch four-pointer that helped point the Bolts to a 101-90 win over TNT last 27 May that tied up their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Quinto scored eight of his 11 points in the extension, including two charity splits that made it a 105-101 count, only 5.4 ticks to go, and eventually enabled the Bolts to withstand a gallant effort from the Hotshots’ Jerom Lastimosa.
Clinton Chapman scored 19 points while Paul Lee boomed in a four-pointer and a triple that sparked a big second quarter breakaway that fueled the Hotshots’ surge to as much as two 21-point leads, the last 51-30.