Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Phoenix-FEU made sure it will go to the playoffs on a winning note as it picked up the slack late to eliminate Mindanao, 90-80, Monday in the 2016 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at San Juan Arena.
Mac Belo showed the way for the Accelerators with 24 points and six rebounds, while Ed Daquioag finally recaptured his thunder and got 22 markers, four assists, and three boards.
Mike Tolomia also had a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, alongside five assists, while Russel Escoto got a double-double with 10 markers and 12 boards.
“This is a confidence-builder for us and at the same time, we don’t want to go to the quarters with a losing record,” said coach Eric Gonzales.
Phoenix-FEU will go to the quarterfinals as the third-seed owning a twice-to-beat advantage against sixth-seed BDO-NU.
Tied halftime at 39, the Accelerators zoomed to a 21-point third quarter to hold a 60-53 at the end of the frame and kept its distance from that point on.
It was also a huge victory for Gonzales, who has repeatedly harped consistency to his players following Phoenix-FEU’s 83-74 defeat to Cafe France last Thursday.
“We can’t play relaxed in the quarters. We should play consistent basketball, so this is a very important game because they saw that if they keep pushing, something good is going to unfold,” he said.
Ken Acibar led Mindanao with 18 points.
The scores:
PHOENIX-FEU 90 – Belo 24, Daquioag 22, Tolomia 14, Ru. Escoto 10, Andrada 6, Tamsi 6, Pascual 5, Inigo 3, Ri. Escoto 0, Lee Yu 0.
MINDANAO 80 – Acibar 18, Garcia 16, Salamat 12, Sarangay 10, Celiz 9, Jumao-as 8, Villanueva 3, Ignacio 2, Ongteco 2, Argamino 0, Dadjilul 0, Julkipli 0.
Quarters: 21-19, 39-39, 60-53, 90-80.