The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas team is in the quarterfinals of the FIBA 3×3 Manila Challenger, thanks to Senegalese Malick Diouf.

A closing-second basket by Diouf lifted SBP-Mandaluyong 3×3 past Seef of Bahrain 13-12 Saturday to set up a Round of 8 duel against Taipei WanBao at 5:05 p.m. Sunday at the Ayala Mall Manila Bay in Paranaque.

With time running out for SBP and Seef hanging on to a 12-10 lead after a 2-pointer by Bogdan Dragovic with a minute left, Zedjay Etulle scored back-to-back baskets to tie the game 12-all, down to 35 seconds.

Seef couldn’t convert on its possession and Diouf made the most out of the crucial break by hitting the go-ahead goal, 17 seconds remaining. The defense then clamped down on the Bahrainis’ last play.

The cliffhanger was a redemption for SBP, which lost to UB of Serbia 16-13, forcing the must-win game against Seef,

Diouf led SBP with 6 points and 7 rebounds, Etulle had 4a and Joseph Sedurifa 3 points. Jeffrey Manday contributed 3 rebounds.

Two other Manila selections fell earlier.

Wildcard Cavite HCG tumbled against Taipei WanBao 21-6 and Singapore 16-15, while Manila Melmac lost to Chongming of China 21-11 and Lugano of Switzerland 21-13, unable to make the most out of the presence of Terrence Romeo.

Present during Day One of the qualifier for the Macau Masters were SBP President Al S. Panlilio and SBP Executive Director Erika Dy.