Fifth-ranked Taguig eliminated the twice-to-beat Bulacan DF, 105-94, to advance to the 2021 Chooks-to-Go NBL Chairman’s Cup semifinals, Sunday night at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Leading by just five entering the fourth period, the Generals used a 7-0 start to establish a double-digit spread, 89-77, with still 9:19 to go.
However, the Republicans failed to take advantage of the nine minutes of basketball for their cause.
They could not break the 10-point barrier Taguig built. The closest they could get was 93-103 after a layup by Ronnifer Camua at the 1:58 mark.
Six Generals reached double digits led by Fidel Castro’s 18 points on a 7-of-17 clip from the field.
Dan Natividad, who only had a point yesterday, dropped 14 points and went a perfect 6-of-6 from the line.
LJ Mayo did it all with 13 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
Coco Tancioco and Mike Sampurna tallied 12 points apiece with the latter chalking up seven rebounds and six assists.
Joseph Celso came through for Bulacan with 22 points and seven rebounds while frontcourt partner Earnest Reyes chimed in 21 points six rebounds and five assists.
Dominick Fajardo went to the line 15 times, converting 10 to finish with 16 points with six rebounds and three assists.
Ryan Operio and Joshua Moralejo combined for 27 points but they needed 28 shots.
The Generals will face the well-rested 9-1 Pampanga Delta in the best-of-three semifinals.
The Scores:
Taguig 105 – Castro 18, Natividad 14, Mayo 13, Tancioco 12, Sampurna 12, Subrabas 11, Lontoc 8, Alcantara 6, Santos 5, Pumaris 4, Caduada 2, Oliveria 0, Gilbero 0.
Bulacan DF 94 – Celso 22, Reyes E. 21, Fajardo 16, Operio 14, Moralejo 13, Camua 7, Sumampong 1, Reyes J. 0, Batac 0, Cruz 0.
Quarterscores: 30-27, 56-52, 82-77, 105-94.
