MANILA, Philippines -- In a game of spurts, MOB came out on top and dealt Skyforce its first loss, 98-94, Wednesday in the 2013 Danny Espiritu Cup basketball tournament at the Lyceum Gym in Manila. 

The lead swayed back-and-forth in the payoff period, with MOB leading by eight, 75-67, early in the fourth then Skyforce seizing a five-point edge, 86-81, with two and half minutes to play.

But MOB went on a ferocious 15-4 blitz, anchored on three triples and steady freethrow shooting, to remain the lone undefeated team at 5-0 in the tournament dedicated to the famous sports agent.

The one-two punch of forward Jopher Custodio and guard Jeff Viernes dealt the toughest blows, finishing with a combined 59 points on 13 triples for MOB. Viernes had 10 down the stretch. 

Skyforce, which has also tabbed ex-pros Chester Tolomia and Marlon Basco, struggled all night as it trailed by as many as nine points, and couldn't break away whenever it got the lead. 

Five players from Skyforce wound up in double-digits -- with Tolomia and Basco leading the way with 16 and 14, respectively -- but it wasn't enough to propel them past the youthful MOB. 

Skyforce dropped to second place with a 5-1 record.

The scores:

MOB 98 -- Custodio 30, Viernes 29, Melencio 10, Reyes 8, Corpus 7, Montilla 7, Maconocido 5, Tajonera 2, Sarangay 0, Acosta 0, Ranises 0,  

Skyforce 94 -- Tolomia 16, Basco 14, Vergara 12, Avenido 11, Sotto 10, Enrile 8, Caceres 8, Sanders 5, Dedicatoria 4, Sta. Cruz 4, Allera 2, Tan 0, Misolas 0.

Quarters: 22-18, 39-38, 68-65, 98-94.