MANILA – Marinerong Pilipino Skippers averted a 32-point meltdown to escape with a 98-80 win over the Technological Institute of the Philippines Engineers in Game 1 of the 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup semifinals at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Eliud Poligrates top-scored with 18 points, with 10 coming in the opening period, while Ilonggo John Byron Villarias chipped in 15 markers.
The Skippers took a 1-0 edge in the best-of-three series.
It immediately imposed its presence on the Engineers with Poligrates leading the way for a 17-4 start en route to its largest lead at 64-32 early in the third quarter.
The Engineers, however, came up with a huge fight back behind Papa Ndiaye to trim the deficit to 81-72 before Negrense Mark Ye, Jordan Rios and Jhonard Clarito steadied the ship for the Skippers with timely baskets for a 98-74 edge.
“Masaya dahil nakuha namin ang Game 1 pero kailangan pa rin trabahuin ang Game 2 dahil di pa tapos ang series,” said Skippers head coach Yong Garcia. “Kailangan pa ng corrections. Sa third quarter, medyo nag-relax kaya nakadikit sila.”
Meanwhile, BRT Sumisip Basilan St. Clare Saints also moved a step closer to reaching the best-of-three finals series after an 86-70 domination over the Centro Escolar University Scorpions.
Malian slotman Mohammed Pare paced the Saints with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Joshua Fontanilla filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, six assists, and five rebounds./PN
