Basilan-Jumbo Plastic dealt Pasay’s playoff bid a major blow, 74-59, in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season, Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Steel rose to 19-10, while the Voyagers slipped to 16-13 — still clinging at the eighth spot in the Northern Division, but just half-a-game ahead of Caloocan-Victory Liner at 15-13.
Just when Pasay thought they were back in the game via Jan Jamon’s stepback trey to pull them within six, 51-57, Basilan unleashed a 12-2 burst to put the game out of reach with 2:14 on the clock, 69-53.
“I told them lang na wag mag panic kahit na the crowd was too loud, we are still in the lead. We just needed to execute our game plan,” Steel head coach Jerson Cabiltes on the team’s mindset when Pasay came back in the fourth.
Already up by nine entering the third stanza, Basilan opened the period on an 11-2 blast, punctuated by Gab Dagangon’s layup on the fastbreak to establish a huge 17-point advantage, 50-33.
But Pasay countered with 10 unanswered points before Hesed Gabo drained a buzzer-beater to put Basilan up by nine heading into the payoff period, 52-43.
Allyn Bulanadi uncorked 18 points, five rebounds, and four steals while Gabo dropped 10 markers and 13 assists for the Steel.
Jamon was the lone Voyager in double-figures in points with 13 markers.
The Scores:
Basilan-Jumbo Plastic 74 – Bulanadi 18, Gabo 10, Balucanag 8, Daa 8, Dumapig 8, Bautista 7, Collado 6, Dagangon 5, Manalang 4, Uyloan 0, Alanes 0, Bringas 0.
Pasay 59 – Jamon 13, Inigo 8, Ilagan 8, Belencion 8, Reverente 7, Opiso 6, Lastimosa 5, Lasquety 2, Moradas 2, Pasia 0, Chan 0.
Quarterscores: 20-21, 39-31, 52-43, 74-59.
Story by Justin Valencia
Photo by Nicks Hernandez
