PBA D-League: Marinero keeps playoff bid alive, turns back Metropac-San Beda

Santi Santillan. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Marinerong Pilipino remained in the playoff race after overcoming Metropac-San Beda, 88-85, in overtime in the 2019 PBA D-League Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Santi Santillan came up big in the clutch for Marinero, hitting a huge three-pointer that gave the Skippers an 84-79 lead with 1:09 left to play.

Art Aquino and Larry Rodriguez led the Skippers’ offense with 16 points apiece while Santillan finished with a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double.

“I always tell them that our chance is not in our hands anymore but we still have to work in our remaining couple of games,” said Marinero head coach Yong Garcia in Filipino. “At least the chance is still there.”

The Skippers improved to a 4-4 record in the Foundation Group but they still need to take down University of Perpetual Help and hope Far Eastern University loses to Centro Escolar University to get a playoff spot.

Metropac-San Beda, meanwhile, dropped to 6-3 and gave the Scorpions and Valencia City Bukdinon-SSCR the top two seeds and the twice-to-beat incentive in the playoffs.

James Canlas had 22 points for the Movers while Clint Doliguez added 16 points and six rebounds.