Pampanga dimmed Cebu-Casino Ethyl Alcohol’s playoff chances after an 88-77 victory, in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season, Tuesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
The Giant Lanterns rose to 19-9, picking up their sixth consecutive triumph. They are now tied with Bataan for the fourth and fifth spots.
Already up by five, 70-65, Pampanga uncorked a 14-5 blast, capped by Michael Juico’s followup off a Felix Apreku miss, that put the nail in the coffin, 84-70 with 1:50 left on the clock.
“The whole game we controlled them eh, kaso nakakakuha ang Cebu sa errors namin, kaya nakakahabol ang Cebu. Pero noong huli, hindi na namin binitawan yung lamang,” said Giant Lanterns head coach Bong Ramos.
Levi Hernandez delivered 21 points for Pampanga while Michael Juico unloaded a huge double-double of 15 markers and 13 rebounds alongside four assists, two steals, and a block.
Dexter Maiquez also registered a double-double of his own with 14 points and 11 boards to go with three dimes, a steal, and a block.
Cebu was led by Will McAloney with 17 points, 17 rebounds, six steals and two blocks but he hit the showers early after fouling out at the 4:28 mark of the fourth period.
The Sharks fell to 13-14, still at the ninth place behind eighth-running Bicol-LCC Stores at 15-13.
With the loss, Iloilo United Royals has clinched a spot in the playoffs.
The Scores:
Pampanga 88 – Hernandez 21, Juico 15, Maiquez 14, Apreku 7, Muyang 6, Fabian 6, Thompson 4, Alberto 4, Cruz 3, Gomez 3, Concepcion 0.
Cebu-Casino Ethyl Alcohol 77 – McAloney 17, Octobre 14, Lee Yu 10, Nuñez 9, Ubalde 8, Galvez 7, Coronel 5, Mantilla 3, Viloria 2, Cortes 2, Saycon 0, Lao 0.
Quarterscores: 21-17, 43-41, 65-61, 88-77.
Story by Justin Valencia
Photo by Thel Suliva
