MPBL: Pasay boosts playoff hopes, shows Biñan the door

Pasay’s Axel Iñigo. MPBL PHOTO

BALANGA, BATAAN—Pasay strengthened its playoff chances after booting out Biñan City-Luxxe White, 68-57, in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season at Bataan People’s Center here on Friday.

With the victory, Pasay raised its record to 15-12 and remained at the eight spot of the Northern Division—one-and-a-half games ahead of ninth-place Caloocan.

“That’s what I’ve been telling my team, that we need to stack more wins,” said Pasay head coach Marlon Martin in Filipino. “Caloocan still has three games to go and if we don’t pile more wins, they might catch up with us.”

Behind Gio Lasquety, Raymund Ilagan and Ronnel Lastimosa, the Voyagers were able to build a 51-42 cushion over Biñan heading into the fourth quarter.

Jason Opiso and Jan Jamon sustained the momentum, igniting a 15-9 rally that saw Pasay take its biggest lead of the ball game at 15, 66-51, off a layup from Ilagan with 2:38 left.

Axel Iñigo led Pasay with his all-around game, finishing with 13 points, six assists, seven rebounds and two steals.

Opiso provided 11 points and six boards while Ilagan added 10 points and eight boards.

Meanwhile, Jed Mendoza had 11 points, four assists and seven rebounds for the Heroes, who are now kicked out of the playoff race with a 12-16 standing in the South Division.

Ivan Villanueva, who has been playing well in the first half, was called for a disqualifying foul after a hard hit on Elvin Chan in the third period.