BATANGAS-TANDUAY sealed a post-season berth in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season after a 63-54 victory over the also-ran Bacolod-Master Sardines, Tuesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
The Athletics improved to 17-11, sixth in the Southern division while Bacolod slipped to 10-19, 11th in the same conference.
Simon Camacho and Yankee Haruna opened the payoff period with back-to-back baskets to trim Bacolod's deficit to just six, 50-44, but Batangas retaliated with 13 unanswered points, capped by Jason Melano's isolation, to give his team the lead for good, 63-44.
"Defensively, ang ganda ng pinakita namin that's why okay kami noong dulo. This is by far our best game this season," said Batangas coach Woody Co.
Genmar Bragais exploded with 21 points off the bench on an 8-for-10 shooting clip and a perfect 4-of-4 from downtown, on top of three assists and two rebounds.
Genmar Bragais steps back to gather for a jumper over the Bacolod defense.
Jason Melano added 14 markers and nine rebounds while Jeff Viernes chipped in 10 points, six dimes, five boards, and four steals.
The Athletics reserves did most of the damage with 42 points while Bacolod's bench only managed 25.
Haruna paced Bacolod with 11 points and eight rebounds while Jessie Saitanan and Edgar Charcos got 10 markers apiece.
The Scores:
Batangas-Tanduay 63 - Bragais 21, Melano 14, Viernes 10, Basibas 5, Eguilos 4, Santos 4, Suerte 3, Tungcab 2, Koga 0, Sara 0, Olivares 0, Mescallado 0, Perez 0.
Bacolod-Masters Sardines 54 - Haruna 11, Charcos 10, Saitanan 10, Adamos 8, Camacho 6, Gayosa 3, Dela Cruz 2, Bernardo 2, Cañada 2, Villahermosa 0, Dimas 0, Cauilan 0, Custodio 0.
Quarterscores: 18-11, 32-26, 50-40, 63-54.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
