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Marinerong Pilipino booked the first ticket to the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup semifinals, sending Che’Lu Bar and Grill-San Sebastian back to earth with an 82-67 rout Tuesday at Pasig Sports Center.
The Skippers opened the game on a 20-2 run en route to their eighth straight win and a spot in the top two with a 9-2 card.
“It’s nice to be there in the semifinals,” said coach Koy Banal.
Abu Tratter dropped 13 of his 16 points in that superb first half, while also hauling down eight rebounds as Marinerong Pilipino pushed their lead to as high as 33, 76-43, early in the fourth period.
Rian Ayonayon added 15 markers, five assists, and three rebounds, while Alvin Pasaol and Vince Tolentino got 11 points each.
It was the defense that once again did the trick for the Skippers, who limited the Revellers to a paltry 31 percent shooting from the field while shooting 49 percent.
“Good thing everybody responded and understood our situation. Our battlecry was to be number one or two, and it’s nice to be at the top,” said Banal.
Marinerong Pilipino will end up with the top seed if Akari-Adamson falls to JRU in the final elimination game on Thursday.
Jayson David unfurled 12 points and four rebounds for Che’Lu-San Sebastian, which saw its five-game winning streak snapped to settle for the fourth seed with a 7-4 card.
Alfred Batino and Samboy de Leon had 10 each for the Revellers.
The scores:
MARINERONG PILIPINO 82 — Tratter 16, Ayonayon 15, Pasaol 11, Tolentino 11, Toth 9, Banal 6, Robles 5, Iñigo 3, Brill 2, Eboña 2, Lopez 2, Babilonia 0, Subido 0, Terso 0.
CHE’LU BAR AND GRILL-SAN SEBASTIAN 67 — David 12, Batino 10, De Leon 10, Faundo 9, Bulanadi 6, Lao 6, Jeruta 4, Capobres 3, Costelo 3, Ilagan 2, Santos 2.
Quarters: 21-12, 44-24, 70-41, 82-67.