Four of those points actually came inside the final 30 seconds, the last two from the free throw line with 7.4 seconds remaining for what proved to be the final score as Meralco won a third straight game and improved to 5-5.

Cardona’s latest endgame heroics has made him responsible in winning three of the B-Boys’ five victories, making Gregorio put the former La Salle ace in the company of the best finishers in the league in the modern time.

“There are four guys that you can put in the category of the league’s best game closers – Sol, (Mercado of Rain or Shine), (Willie) Miller (of Barangay Ginebra), James (Yap of Derby Ace) and Mac,” Gregorio said.

“I have always felt that they are on the same level,” Gregorio expounded some more, comparing Cardona to Yap, his erstwhile finisher at Purefoods.

Cardona finished with 24 points, but he got a lot of help, which made it possible for him to come up with his heroics again in the endgame.

Gabby Espinas, the former Sta. Lucia forward itching to earn a name for himself in the league, tossed in 21, rookie Hans Thiele added 10 and the erstwhile forgotten Chris Ross grabbed 12 rebounds that went with 10 assists and six points.

“(The) important thing is that the team knows that Mac can’t do it alone,” Gregorio said. “That’s the essence of teamwork and that is what we instill in this team. But when the game was on the line, we had to call Super Mac and he delivered.” Powerade took a fifth straight loss and matched the tournament’s longest losing streak being held by idle tail-ender Barako Bull.

At 3-8, the Tigers are now more than a game behind Air21 in eighth place, the final spot that would advance to the quarterfinals should the playoffs start today.

“We badly needed that win, it’s a separation win for us,” Gregorio explained. “We knew coming into the game that we are still in the danger zone. We just don’t want to end up in a death trap.” Mark Macapagal and Gary David tossed in 18 points each to pace the Tigers, but the duo both had crucial miscues in the stretch which partly aided the downfall of Powerade.

Powerade had a chance to send the game into an extension, gaining possession in the final seven second after those Cardona free throws.

But Macapagal dribbled so much time away and actually had the ball in his hands when the clock died as Powerade never got to launch a three-pointer that would have tied it.

Gregorio’s former team, Derby Ace, which he guided to the championship here last season, won a fifth straight game later in the night by nipping Alaska, 84-79.

The Llamados got 19 points each from Yap and Peter June Simon and 17 from Nino ‘KG’ Canaleta as they outsteadied the Aces in a wild endgame to climb to a 6-5 record and into solo fourth place with three games remaining in their schedule.

“There’s still a chance (to finish in the top two),” Derby Ace coach Jorge Gallent said. “We’re still hoping.” Canaleta was the X-factor for Gallent in the game, with the former Slam Dunk champion equaling his production in the Llamados’ first nine games.

Last night, Canaleta hit 4-of-8 free throws after coming into the game making just one of his first 19 tries in the conference. His final trey came at the 49.1-second mark which gave the Llamados the lead to stay, 81-79.

“He’s been practicing well,” Gallent said. “The only problem that is gets out of synch during games. I gave him the time (on the floor) because of the way he practices, and the way he played tonight was like the way he practices.” LA Tenorio’s 15 points and six assists paced the Aces, who also got 13 points from Tony dela Cruz and 11 points and 10 rebounds from Joe Devance.

Alaska is not at 5-6.