Home team Pasay tightened its grip of the eighth spot in the North after a 79-61 drubbing of Makati-Super Crunch in the home stretch of the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season playoff race, Tuesday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Voyagers elevated their win-loss record to 16-12, still in eighth place; they also added some buffer over ninth-seed Caloocan-Victory Liner at 15-13.
“Maganda ‘yung reaction ng team sa pressure to win… Sabi ko sa kanila, hindi dahil malaki na ang lamang namin, magpapabaya na sila,” said Pasay head coach Marlon Martin.
Just when Pasay looked like was on the way to the victory, 68-51, Makati surged back with eight straight points. That trimmed the deficit to single digits, 68-59, with 2:34 on the clock.
But the Voyagers answered back with an 11-2 run to finish the wire-to-wire triumph.
Already up by eight, the Voyagers outscored their foes in the third quarter, 19-11, to double their margin at 16 at the end of the period, 57-41.
Axel Iñigo led the onslaught with 20 points built on three triples, alongside five rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
Jaypee Belencio chalked up 12 markers, all from downtown. Meanwhile, Dhon Reverente and Gio Lasquety got 10 points apiece, with the former also having 10 rebounds.
On the other hand, Jeckster Apinan had 18 points. Cedric Ablaza unloaded 17 markers and 10 rebounds.
Makati slid to 21-7, still in the third spot in the same division. This is also its third loss in four games.
The Scores:
Pasay 79- Iñigo 20, Belencion 12, Reverente 10, Lasquety 10, Pasia 8, Lastimosa 7, Ilagan 6, Opiso 4, Solero 2, Moradas 0, Dela Cruz 0, Hilario 0, Chan 0.
Makati-Super Crunch 61 – Apinan 18, Ablaza 17, Baloria 7, Torralba 6, Lingganay 5, Cruz 4, Manlangit 2, Importante 2, Atkins 0, Lloren 0, Cayanan 0, Sedurifa 0.
Quarterscores: 18-14, 38-30, 57-41, 79-61.
Story by Justin Valencia
Photo by Thel Suliva
