Paolo Javelona scored 16 points to lead seven other players in double figures as Marinerong Pilipino crushed Gamboa Coffee Mix, 138-69 on Monday to effectively secure its place in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
The Skippers shot 55 percent to dominate the game against a team that seemingly had no interest to win.
Joseph Marata tallied 15 points, Ralph Salcedo and Ronzo Subido had 12 apiece while Mark Isip, Jeffrey Javillonar and Dave Miralde added 11 each for Marinerong Pilipino, which encountered only a token of a challenge and led by as many as 69 points.
The Skippers improved to 5-4 with a possible chance of clinching a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals should they win their last game against AMA on Thursday.
Marinerong Pilipino coach Koy Banal isn’t about to celebrate though.
His fears the prospect of the team being left out of the playoffs in the event of a four-way tie for the fourth, fifth and sixth spots. That will only happen should the Skippers losses their last game against AMA on Thursday.
That also means that Escolar University (5-3) and Batangas (5-3) will have to fall by the sideways in their last two outings. Wangs, the other team that could figure in the tie, had finished its elimination campaign with a 5-5 mark.
Banal is keeping his fingers crossed that his troop will take care of business and get the job done.
“Miracles still happen. We’re hoping that we’ll be able to be smart in our preparation so that we’ll be ready for the next level,” he said.
Playing coach Leo Avenido scored 24 points and Ken Acibar chipped in 14 for the Coffee Lovers, who battled the Skippers to seven lead changes and eight deadlocks before playing as bad as they could in the second half.
Instead of wearing long faces, Avenido and his troop could still manage to smile while those on the court committed one error after the other.
Gamboa Coffee Lovers shotba woeful 32 percent from the field and committed a horrendous 25 turnovers, most coming in the second half.