Jumbo Plastic advanced to the 2015 PBA D-League Foundation Cup playoffs with a 78-72 victory over MP Hotel – Letran Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Ex-pro Paul Sanga caught fire in the fourth quarter, dropping all but 2 of his 15 points, to lead the Giants to a fifth-seed with a 5-4 card. He also had seven rebounds.
The Giants now brace for fourth-seed Hapee in the quarterfinals with the Fresh Fighters owning a twice-to-beat advantage.
Coach Stevenson Tiu was elated with his squad’s progress, but warned the Giants that the Hapee squad they beat early in the season is a far cry from the team they will face on Monday.
“We have to play 200-percent to beat Hapee. The Hapee team we beat is not the same team that we played so I challenged the players to prove that our first win was not a stroke of luck,” he said.
Jumbo Plastic upended Hapee, 64-61, on March 23, with the Fresh Fighters playing without the San Beda Red Lions core.
Philip Paniamogan and Glenn Khobuntin both got 13 markers, as Denice Villamor added a double-double with his 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Khasim Mirza led MP-Hotel with 21 points, as the Warriors end the conference with a 1-8 slate. CC
The Scores:
Jumbo Plastic 78 – Sanga 15, Paniamogan 13, Khobuntin 13, Villamor 11, Arellano 6, Mandani 5, Tiongson 4, Eguilos 4, Avillanoza 4, Perez 3, Purdy 0.
MP Hotel – Letran 72 – Mirza 21, Acidre 15, Dela Pena 10, Quinto 8, Nambatac 6, Custodio 5, Mendoza 4, Colina 2, Cruz 1, Luib 0, Calvo 0, Apreku 0.
Quarters: 25-21, 42-38, 55-56, 78-72.