Skippers smother Generals, gain joint 2nd

Marinerong Pilipino vented its ire on Batangas following a blowout loss as it fashioned out a 106-64 rout to gain share of second in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig yesterday.

The Skippers put behind them the stigma of their 71-88 defeat at the hands of the Che’Lu Bar and Grill side last week, using a strong start and a stronger finish to demolish the Generals and join Che’Lu at second at 2-1.

Robbie Manalang fired 20 points and Trevis Jackson added 19 makers to lead Marinero, which also drew 10 points apiece from Abu Tratter, Javi Gomez de Liaño and Jorey Napoles in the 42-point romp.

“Whoever we are going up against, whatever the situation, whether we are up or down, we want to play the same way, we will go hard. I am thankful they responded to the challenge after playing a very horrible second half game against Che’Lu,” said Marinerong Pilipino coach Koy Banal.

A crippling 17-0 run bridging the first two quarters put the Skippers way ahead at 38-15 which they stretched to a 25-point bulge, 55-30, at the half.

The Batangas Generals, who beat the Centro Escolar U Scorpions Monday, tried to mount a challenge at resumption but Clark Bautista, who capped a 14-2 Batangas run with a triple that cut the lead down to 13, got ejected and Marinerong Pilipino hardly encountered any trouble from there.

Cedric de Joya topscored with 19 points while Clark Derige was held to eight after a 28-point burst the last time out for the Generals.