Skippers, Scorpions crush foes for semifinal berths

Marinerong Pilipino and Centro Escolar University hammered hapless foes on Thursday to reach their division semifinals in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Eloy Poligrates scored 19 points and led five other Skippers with double digits in scoring as Marinerong Pilipino tore AMA to shreds, 100-78, while the Scorpions destroyed Asia’s Lashes, 89-48.

Marinerong Pilipino will clash with the winner of the TIP-Black Mamba quarterfinal pairing, while the victor of the St. Clare-Hyperwash clash will advance to face the Scorpions in best-of-three series.

Mark Yee produced 13 points and six rebounds, while JR Alabanza added 12 points that went with eight boards in the win.

Byron Villarias and Jhonard Clarito had 11 points apiece, with Rev Diputado shooting 10 to cap a balanced scoring attack for Marinerong Pilipino.

From a narrow 17-14 lead in the opening quarter, Poligrates and Yee spearheaded a 15-0 blast to give the Skippers a 32-14 advantage early in the second frame.

Marinerong Pilipino led by as many as 26, 68-42, after a Yee bucket with 4:49 left in the third canto before cruising to the win.

“We’re happy and we will continue to work hard to make the finals,” coach Yong Garcia said.

Aaron Black ended his PBA D-League campaign with 22 points and five assists to lead AMA.

Rich Guinitaran scored 16 points and had 14 rebounds to lead the Scorpions, who will be making their straight conference semifinal appearance dating back to the 2018 Foundation Cup.

Dave Bernabe had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Senegalese center Malick Diouf had 12 points and 13 boards.