SKYFORCE  edged erstwhile unbeaten Jose Rizal University, 81-80, while Mapua-Mighty Sports  subdued  Investwell, 83-73, to keep their hopes for a semifinals berth  alive  in  the MBL Invitational basketball championship at the JRU gym in Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City.

Former Philippine Youth mainstay Jay-Ar Taganas of San Beda College and ex-pros Jeff Sanders  and June Longalong exploited   their  height  advantage to the hilt, scoring repeatedly from  inside the shaded area  to escape  with  a  heart-stopping  win  over the Heavy Bombers. 

Taganas  scattered  15 points,  while Sanders and Longalong added 14 points apiece  for the  Manila-based  team of   businessman-sportsman   Nestor Luego.

The 6-3  Taganas, known as ‘Baby  Shaq” during  his San Beda days,  outworked   his younger  and  smaller  JRU defenders  in the  shaded area  during  a  pivotal  stretch in the fourth period  to power  Skyforce to its fourth win in seven tries.

Phillip  Paniamogan and  Decoy Lopez  combined for 35 points for the  Vergel  Meneses-mentored  Heavy Bombers, who saw  their six-game  winning  streak come to an end.

Actually, the  Heavy Bombers  had several  chances  to salvage the  game, but   Byron Villarias and  Lopez  missed  from point-blank  range  on consecutive possessions  and   Skyforce  holding on to a 79-78 lead.

And  after  Leimar Navarro made it  81-78 with two free throws with  11.6 seconds left, Ronnel Carampil missed a contested  three-point shot from the left  corner.

A  putback by Villarias finalized  the  score.

In the second game, Mapua  relied on  6-5 Jessie Saitanan, 5-7 Jonathan Banal, 6-1 Kenneth Ighalo,  and 6-3  Joseph  Oriobu to  deal  Investwell its sixth straight defeat.

Saitanan finished with 18 points, while Banal added 16 points for the Cardinals, who are  seeking to make it to th enext round  under  coach  Chito Victolero.

Mark Pangilinan fired 25 points and Floyd Dedicatoria added 21  points for investwekll, which  is   being  handled by coach  Joel  Jabar.

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

The scores:

First game

Skyforce (82) -- Taganas 15, Sanders 14,  Longalong 14,  Caceres 11,  Tan 9,  Navarro 8, Junio 4, Lim 2,  De  Castro 2, Sta Maria 2, Cacha 0,  Florino 0, Lima 0.

JRU   (81) --   Paniamogan 19, Lopez 16, Carampil 12, Almario 9, Mendoza 9, Villarias 7, Monserat 4,  Matute 3, Dela Paz 1, Camasura 0, Salaveria 0, Garcia 0.

Quarterscores: 21-15, 31-37, 60-62, 82-81.

Second game

Mapua-Mighty Sports (93) --  Saitanan 18,  J.Banal 16, Ighalo 15, Oriobu 10, Estrella 10, Chien 9, Brana 8, G.Banal 5, Stevens 2, Magsigay 0.

Investwell  (83) -- Pangilinan 25,  Dedicatoria 21, Malinao 14, Echane  6,  Alguno 5,   Delostrinos 3,  De la Cruz 3, Rabalo 3, Sanguyo 3, Uao 0, Lumague 0.

Quarterscores:  19-20, 49-42,  68-65, 93-83.