Game Wednesday: (Aquinas gym)

6:30  p.m. --  Wang’s   Ballclub  vs.  UST-Ironcon

Games Thursday: (JRU gym)

7 p.m. -- JRU vs. Skyforce

8:30  p.m. --    Mapua-Mighty Sports vs Investwell


SKYFORCE outsteadied Investwell,  99-92,  in a tight and exciting  contest   to  keep  its hopes for a  semifinals  berth alive in the MBL Invitational basketball championship at the JRU gym in  Shaw  Blvd.,  Mandaluyong City.

Ex-pro  Jeff   Sanders scattered 25  points,  mostly  on one-on-one plays  down  the  stretch , to power Skyforce  of coach June  Longalong   and  manager  Nestor  Luego to its  third  win in  six matches in  this 10-team   tournament  sponsored  by  Smart Sports, Cebuana   Lhuillier, Dickies Underwear, PRC  Couriers and  Parola Maritime.

The  6-2   Sanders, who played for  Barangay Ginebra in  the PBA,  eluded his defenders and scored  repeatedly to help Skyforce  stave off Investwell’s determined rally.

MC Caceres, Ismael Junio, Arnold  Sta. Maria and former MBL  MVP  Leimar Navarro also came  through  with  clutch baskets for Skyforce.

Ronald Roy fired 23 points and  Fil-Aussie Enel Rowe added 14 points for investwell, which bowed out  of contention with a 2-5 card.

Investwell  swept  its  first  two games  but dropped  the  next five in a big letdown.

The  tensely-fought  battle   saw  the  ejection  of Investwell coach  Joel Jabar and  consultant Edwin Santos late in the third period.

Mapua-Mighty Sports won by default over Trinity University-Now TV  to improve  its record to  4-3 in a tie with Wang’s Ballclub.

Defending champion University of Sato Tomas-Ironcon Builders and Jose Rizal University share the lead with six straight wins, followed by Letran College with 4-2.

MBL tournament director Albert Andaya said  the top four teams will advance to the semis, with the No. 1 team taking on the No. 4 squad and the No. 2 team battling the No. 3 squad in a pair of  knockout matches.

The winners will then dispute the title in a winner-take-all encounter.

The scores:

Skyforce  (99) -- Sanders 25, Caceres 14, Junio 13, Sta Maria 11, Navarro 10, Taganas 8, Enrile 6, Florino 6, De Castro 4, Leyga 2, Cacha 2, Lima 0, Tan 0.

Investwell (92) -- Roy 23, Rowe 14, Pangilinan 12, Delos Trinos 10, Echane 8, Alguno 7, Malinao 6, Dedicatoria 6, Dela Cruz 2,  Rabalo 2, Lumague 0.