The Diliman College-Gerry’s Grill Blue Dragons continued their Cinderella run to the 2019 PBA D-League playoffs, sinking the Marinerong Pilipino Skippers, 86-85, Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Beninese big man Kevin Gandjeto uncorked 29 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks, none bigger than his split from the line with 12.4 seconds left to give the Blue Dragons the marginal lead.
The Skippers still had a chance, but Mike Ayonayon and Art Aquino flubbed their chances as the final buzzer sounded.
“We just stuck to our character. We won because of our defense and our character,” said coach Rensy Bajar.
Diliman-Gerry’s also garnered solid performances from Joseph Brutas and Johnnel Bauzon, both of whom wound up with 15 points on 3-of-4 shooting from distance.
The win propelled the Blue Dragons to joint fourth place in the Foundation Group, tying Chadao-FEU at 4-3.
Marinerong Pilipino, on the other hand, fell to 3-4, tied with Wangs Basketball in sixth and in danger of missing the playoffs altogether.
Ayonayon led the Skippers with 16 points but on a 5-of-21 field goal shooting, adding nine rebounds and six assists.
Santi Santillan got himself 15 points and six boards. Meanwhile, Jhonard Clarito recorded a double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds in his debut for the souped-up Marinerong Pilipino.
The Scores:
Diliman-Gerry’s 86 — Gandjeto 29, Brutas 15, Bauzon 15, Mahari 9, Darang 7, Balagtas 7, Torrado 2, Sombero 2, Cabanag 0, Enriquez 0, Bonsubre 0.
Marinerong Pilipino 85 — Ayonayon 16, Santillan 15, A. Aquino 14, Clarito 12, M. Aquino 7, Victoria 7, Montalbo 5, Wamar 5, Mendoza 2, Reyes 2, Gamboa 0, Bunag 0.
Quarterscores: 20-26, 49-50, 69-68, 86-85.
