TANDUAY Light got back on the winning track with a 92-76 win over LiverMarin on Thursday at the Ynares Arena in Pasig to stay alive in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup playoff race.
The Rhum Masters encountered stiff resistance from the tournament’s cellar-dwellers, before pulling away when it mattered to score just their second victory in six games that snapped a four-game skid.
Aljon Mariano put up an all-around performance of 17 points, eight boards, two assists, one steal, and one block, while Joseph Eriobu provided the spark off the bench with 15 points in 11 minutes for the Rhum Masters, who dealt the Guardians their second successive loss and fifth overall in six games to get stuck at the bottom.
“It’s a minor win, but we’ll take it,” said Rhum Masters coach Lawrence Chongson, whose team moved up to seventh in the 10-team standings. Only the top six teams advance to the quarterfinals.
“Hopefully, umabot pa kami,” he added. “Wala naman ibang pwedeng gawin kundi lumaban. Trabaho pa rin. At least may konting liwanag.”
Chongson also drew solid efforts from Raymond Ilagan (13 points, four rebounds) and Roi Sumang (11 points, six assists, five steals, three boards).
Choi Ignacio registered 19 points, two caroms, and two steals that went for naught for the Guardians.
The scores:
Tanduay 92 – Mariano 17, Eriobu 15, Ilagan 13, Sumang 11, Tagarda 10, Belencion 9, Rosales 7, Santos 6, Escueta 2, Dela Paz 2, Jumao-As 0, Cenal 0, Rono 0, Lo 0
LiverMarin 76 – Ignacio 19, Costelo 15, Guinto 9, Dela Cruz 8, Rios 7, Ortuoste 5, Calisaan 4, Bangga 4, De Vera 3, Balucanag 2, Fabian 0, Santos 0, Laude 0, Marcus 0
Quarterscores: 22-21; 44-41; 69-59; 92-76.
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