Amazing Skippers zero in on season sweep

Games on Wednesday (Cuneta Astrodome) 1 p.m. – Marinerong Pilipino vs BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare

Undefeated Marinerong Pilipino sank BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare, 69-59, yesterday and moved closer to etching mark with a possible breakthrough championship in the PBA D-League.

Eleven of coach Yong Garcia’s 12 players helped in the scoring department led by Jess Diputado’s 12 points as the well-balanced Skippers took care of Game One of the Foundation Cup best-ofthree finals at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

The Skippers take a five-day breather before plunging back into action Wednesday, looking to complete a season sweep. If ever, Marinerong Pilipino would be a third team to do the feat.

NLEX, prior to its pro-league entry, was the first team to mop up a D-League tournament, achieving it twice in 2012 and 2014.

Team captain and conference MVP frontrunner Eloy Poligrates racked up nine markers, five rebounds, seven assists and seven steals while big men William McAloney and Santi Santillan combined for 17 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks as they held their own against St. Clare reinforcement Mohammed Pare.

“We can’t afford to be complacent and satisfied yet. We still have a lot of things to correct especially with our lackluster second-half performance. We played roller-coaster in that half with our poor selections. We have to stick to our game plan next game if we wish to complete our goal, ” said Garcia.

The Skippers exploded from the starting block, scorching the Saints with a 21-8 first-quarter salvo which they sustained to take the half at 43-24.

But the Skippers cooled down coming out of the break, tallying just 11 points in the third period to give the Saints an opportunity to mount a comeback after a Hesed Gabo triple at the third quarter buzzer for just a 41-54 deficit. The scores: Marinerong Pilipino 69 – Diputado 12, Poligrates 9, McAloney 9, Santillan 8, Alabanza 6, Rios 6, Ayonayon 4, Clarito 4, Mangahas 4, Yee 4, Villarias 3, Sara 0. BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare 59 – Bautista 17, Pare 14, Fontanilla 7, Hallare 7, Gabo 5, Collado 3, Dumapig 3, Batino 2, Manacho 1.

Quarterscores: 21-8, 4324, 54-41, 69-59