DOHA: A come from behind victories of underdog teams has caught hundreds of basketball fans by surprise as the elimination rounds of 2011 McDonald's Basketball Cup of Pinoy Basketbol Qatar heated up in the games over the weekend at the Al Gharrafa Multi-Training Gym.

They maybe tired and exhausted, but Cotabato Empire have beaten the odds by snatching the almost assured victory of Alfardan, 84-80, in the dying seconds with two successful ball interceptions leading to the baskets.

In the game earlier of the same hard court, Trans fast / KBAS also surprised a win against Qatar Kents, 65-64 after Nikus Valerio converted a difficult shot inside the keyhole with only 6 seconds left to seal the win.

But the two back to back threepoints of Trans Fast's power forward Pocholo Santos in the rainbow territory was actually the turning point and suddenly change the complexion of game in their favor after trailing behind Qatar Kentz in the three quarters of the game.

Euphoria broke loose from the fans of booth winning teams who were engaged in catcalls and shouted at the top of their voice when the buzzer rang signaling the end of the games.

At the Class A games, KIA/Mindoro Tamaraws also overcome a tight ballgame against Western Union Rumaillah to register their win, 90-79, after point guard Eric Tamayo started to caught fire and converted a flurry of baskets in the dying minutes.

Class B defending champions IMCO Engineering have slowly shown their old from after their two-game losing streak by handily defeating The One, 92-67. In other games results: GAC won against Golden Relations, 63-51; Jersey Masters against Salam Petroleum, 78-40; Power Horse against QDVC PS70, 105-27 and Pampanga Dragons, against Exova, 85-78.

THE PENINSULA

BY CHRIS PANGANIBAN