American guard DJ Newbill finished with a game-high 29 points mainly behind a quintet of three-pointers, none bigger than his last one which he launched from deep to wipe out a 91-93 deficit with 17.4 seconds left.
Tabiat’s Ivan Buva tried to save the FIBA WASL runner-up but his hook shot went in and out, and a botched attempt by Arman Zangeneh to clean it up all but sealed the deal for the 2024-25 B.League champion.
Newbill also collected 6 rebounds and 10 assists in an all-around effort to lead his side to the penultimate phase, where they will face the winner between the Meralco Bolts and the Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos.