Go for Gold secured the No. 2 spot in the 2018 PBA D-League Foundation Cup with an 86-71 trouncing of Marinerong Pilipino-TIP on Monday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The Scratchers held the Engineers to just eight points in the third quarter as they stretched their lead to 18 points entering the payoff period.
A Vince Tolentino foul shot with 7:11 to play gave the Scratchers their biggest lead of 23 points, 69-46.
Jai Reyes topscored for Go for Gold with 19 points that went with eight assists.
Dan Wong also chipped in 14 points while Gab Banal impressed with 13 points in his return from a two-game absence.
“If we play defense, we’ll have a chance to win every game,” said Go for Gold coach Charles Tiu.
In the second game, Batangas-Emilio Aguinaldo kept AMA Online Education winless this conference after a 91-78 rout.
Batangas wrapped up its run with a 4-6 record.
Go for Gold faces Che’Lu Bar and Grill on Thursday to decide the top seed while Marinerong will take on Centro Escolar University for the No. 3 position.
First Game:
GO FOR GOLD 86—Reyes 19, Wong 14, Banal 13, Pili 12, Publico 10, Tolentino 5, Porter 4, Salem 4, Cipriano 3, Gaco 2.
MARINERONG-TIP 71—Tratter 16, Enguio 10, Manalang 9, Ndiaye 9, Jackson 7, Palencia 7, Johnson 5, Medina 4, Napoles 4, Matignas 0, B. Santos 0, Thiele 0.
Quarters: 13-14, 36-35, 61-43, 86-71