TRECE MARTIRES, CAVITE — Burger King worked extra hard on Labor Day and got an extra bonus.

Banking on the end-game heroics of Khiel Misa, the Burger King Whoppers outsteadied Pharex 69-65 to close out its elimination campaign on a high note in the PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the jampacked Gov. Ayong Maliksi gym here.

The 5-foot-7 Misa completed his steal off Sean Co in the last 17 seconds which turned out to be the insurance basket the Whoppers needed to reaffirm their mastery over the Medics.

The Medics had several chances to turn the game around but three hurried attempts from the 3-point zone, including two from Ronnie Bughao, hastened their downfall.

In the second game, Hapee Toothpaste got a belated revenge over Harbour Centre by scoring an 86-75 win.

A vicious 11-0 run which was fuelled by Jervy Cruz’s back-to-back baskets was all the Complete Protectors needed to finally pull away from the Batang Pier.

The win enabled the Complete Protectors to end a three-game losing skid to the Batang Pier dating back to their best-of-three finals in the last conference.

It was the second loss by Harbour Centre in the double-round elims while Hapee ended its elimination campaign with a 10-5 slate.

For finishing with a third-best record of 9-6, the BK Whoppers earned a privilege to select their quarterfinal opponent aside from having a twice-to-beat bonus.

With the loss, the Medics finished the double-round elims with a 7-8 win-loss card–the same record of San Mig Coffee and Toyota Otis. But due to their superior quotient, the Coffee Kings secured the other twice-to-beat advantage in the next round.

Since they have already beaten Pharex four straight dating back to the last conference, Burger King coach Allan Gregorio picked Pharex to be their quarterfinal opponent.

For a while, the Medics appeared headed to securing the other twice-to-beat bonus when they took a 52-44 lead late in the third period. But the BK Whoppers steadily whittled Pharex’s lead before regaining the lead 59-58 on a Nestor David basket.

A surprise triple by forward Ronnie Matias and another basket by Francis Allera enabled Pharex to tie the count at 65-all. But it proved to be their last gallant stand.

Despite Allera’s perfect 3-of-3 record from the three-point zone, the Medics still found themselves trailing the Whoppers at the break 36-32.

Despite the rainy condition, Gov. Ayong Maliksi still showed up to welcome with open arms the players, coaches and officials of the league.

Commissioner Chino Trinidad promised the popular governor to hold Game 2 of the best-of-five Finals in this bustling city.

Meantime, the league holds its showcase today with Bacchus Energy Drink’s Rey Guevarra defending his Slamdunk title against a tough cast that includes Hapee’s high-flying forward Gabe Norwood.