FORMER Purefoods standout Boyet Fernandez  scored  28   points  and Al  Vergara nailed  two pressure-packed    free   throws  with 6.4  seconds left  as   MOB   Packers brought down  Skyforce, 74-73,  in the  MBL Invitational Cup basketball championship at the  Lyceum  gym  in Intramuros, Manila.

Fernandez , who led Letran College to two NCAA titles in 2003 and  2005,   made  seven  of   his  eight  three-point  shots  to lead  MOB  to its second  straight win  after losing  the first four.

The  5-7 guard, who was drafted  ninth overall  by  Purefoods  in 2006, outduelled    his former   Letran  teammate Ronjay Enrile  of  Skyforce  for most part of the  tensely-fought encounter.

Vergara, who  is  best remembered for his  role in Harbour Centre’s dynasty in the defunct  PBL,  drew a foul from Ismael Junio of  Skyforce and  calmly sank two free throws for  74-70 lead.

A buzzer-beating heave by Enrile   from   near-midcourt  finalized  the score.

Former national team  mainstay Richie Melencio added 10 points and  one-time  MBL MVP Jamal Viscarra  contributed seven points  for  the Ben Rubio-managed  MOB.

Jeff  Sanders  paced   Skyforce with 17 points,  followed  by Junio with 15 and   Enrile  with 14.

Mapua-Mighty Sports outsteadied  Lyceum of the Philippines-Yummy Hotdogs, 60-58, to keep its hopes alive with its second  win in four matches.

Gabriel  Banal   finished with 16   points  and   Mike  Parala  added 14  points  for  the   Mighty Sports-supported  Cardinals,  who  kept the Pirates at bay  with  several  clutch  baskets  in  the end.

The  Cardinals, who are seeking  their first MBL title under coach  Chito Victolero, came through with  the much-needed baskets despite the  usual tight defense of their  Intramuros neighbors.

Lyceum-Yummy had  a  chance to send the game into overtime but Vince Laude  failed to get a shot as time expired.

Rich Guevarra  and  Fritzgerald  Ong  shared scoring  honors for Lyceum-Yummy  with 16 and 10 points, respectively.

The  tournament is being supporterd  by Smart Sports, Cebuana   Lhuillier, Dickies Underwear, Parola  Maritime and PRC Couriers.

The scores:

First game

Mapua-Mighty Sports (60) --  G.Banal 16, Parala 14, Ighalo 10, Nimes 7, Stevens 6, Oriobu 4, Chien 2, Brana 2, J.Banal 0, Saitanan 0,  Magsigay 0, Estrella 0.

Lyceum-Yummy Hotdogs (58) -- Guevarra 16, F.Ong 10, Fampulme 7,  Laude 6,  Zamora 6, Cayabyab  4, J.Ong 2, Difuntorum 2, Mallari 2, Kho 2, Francisco 2, Azores 0, Anacta 0.

Quarterscores:  12-12, 26-24, 39-39, 60-58.

Second game

MOB   Packers (74) -- Bautista  28,  Melencio 10, Viscarra 7, Vergara  6, Re.Ranises 6,  Dizon 5, Ro.Ranises 4, Raymundo 4, Ong 4, Panares 0,  Lustestica 0.

Skyforce (73) --Sanders 17, Junio 15, Enrile 14, Taganas 7, Navarro 7, Tan 5, Florino 4, De Castro 2,  Lim 2, Sta Maria 0.

Quarterscores:  20-13, 41-33, 56-59, 74-73.