QC routs Navotas, gains MBT semis

Quezon City smothered Navotas, 99-81, to emerge the No. 1 team in the North in the Metro Basketball Tournament (MBT) seniors competitions at the Navotas Sports Complex last Sunday.

John Mahari, Jesus Manuel Asuncion, Julius Barraquias and Mikhael Justin Salazar and Roque Estoce combined for 62 points for QC, which finished the elims with a 5-1 (winloss) record for an outright semifinals berth in the tournament organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority.

Manila subdued Valenzuela, 85-79, and San Juan routed Caloocan, 106-79, to force a three-way tie with Marikina for second at 4-2 in the tourney backed by Mobile App ng Bayan Barangay 143 as co-presentor, Synergy 88 as main sponsor, my|phone Bida ang Pinoy as official mobile phone and Spalding as official ball.

But after the tiebreak, San Juan took the No. 2 seed (1.038) followed by Manila (0.989) and Marikina (0.972).

Mahari topscored with 16 points, while Asuncion shot 13 points for QC which will face the knockout quarterfinal winner between No. 4 Marikina and No. 5 Navotas in the North playoffs.

It will be No. 3 Manila vs No. 6 Caloocan and No. 2 San Juan vs No. 7 Valenzuela in the other quarterfinal pairings in the North Division with the Whatta Whatta having the twice-to-beat edge against the Workhorses in the event backed by San Miguel Corp., World Balance, and Higer Bus.