SMDC-NU continued its late surge, clobbering Wangs Basketball, 102-71, to drag it out of 2019 PBA D-League playoff race on Monday at JSCGO Gym.
The Bulldogs bucked a slow start and took a 34-20 lead at the end of the opening frame.
SMDC-NU slowly pulled away and erected a 32-point lead, 88-56, early in the fourth on a Shaun Ildefonso lay-up.
Senegalese center Issa Gaye led the attack for the Bulldogs with 13 points and nine rebounds, as Niko Abatayo had all of his 12 points in the first half.
Dave Ildefonso had 11 points and five rebounds, as John Galinato and John Lloyd Clemente both scored 10.
"Good thing is we're finishing strong and that's a great sign for us. We're playing better defense, moving the ball well, and the roles are being defined better," said coach Jamike Jarin.
"I'm happy with the way we performed, but I hope it could've come a little bit earlier."
The game pulled the two teams at an even 3-5, with SMDC-NU also taking Wangs Basketball out of the top four chase in the Foundation Group.
Denzel Wong topped the Couriers with 17 points as they fell to their fourth straight defeat.
The scores:
SMDC-NU 102 - Gaye 13, Abatayo 12, D. Ildefonso 11, Clemente 10, Galinato 10, Minerva 9, Mangayao 8, S. Ildefonso 6, Gallego 6, Tibayan 5, Oczon 4, Rangel 4, Diputado 2, Yu 2, Mosqueda 0.
Wangs Basketball 71 - Wong 17, Inigo 11, Gerero 10, Ilac 8, Singontoko 7, Bulawan 6, De Mesa 5, Lim 4, Vito 3, Brojan 0, Tongco 0, Evangelista 0.
Quarterscores: 34-20; 54-46; 86-56; 102-71.
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