PBA D-League Finals: Basilan-St. Clare forces do-or-die

BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare Saints’ Joshua Fontillas drives for an inside basket against the defense of Negrense Mark Yee of Marinerong Pilipino Skippers. PBA PHOTO
BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare Saints’ Joshua Fontillas drives for an inside basket against the defense of Negrense Mark Yee of Marinerong Pilipino Skippers. PBA PHOTO

MANILA – BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare Saints kept their title hopes alive in the 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup Finals after a 74-60 Game 2 win over Marinerong Pilipino Skippers at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Jessie Collado provided veteran presence for the Saints. He finished with 20 points and six rebounds on Wednesday while Joshua Fontanilla added 14 markers.

The Saints levelled the best-of-three championship series at 1-1.

Malian center Mohammed Pare registered a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards, and Jhaps Bautista chimed in 11 markers.

The Saints stretched the series to a do-or-die Game 3 on Monday at the Paco Arena.

It set the tone early in the game with a 15-5 scoring start behind Collado as they led by as much as 24 points before thwarting the attempted run by the Skippers in the second half.

“Obviously, mas may energy kami ngayon, especially on defense,” said coach Stevenson Tiu, as BRT Sumisip-St. Clare forced Marinerong Pilipino to commit 17 turnovers and turned it to 26 easy points.

Bacolodnon John Byron Villarias was the only double-digit scorer for Marinerong Pilipino with 11 markers as his team was limited to a measly 30-percent from the field, including a 4-of-19 clip from beyond the arc.

The defeat, the Skippers’ first in the Foundation Cup, also spoiled the coronation of Cebuano guard Eluid Poligrates as Conference Most Valuable Player./PN

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