Pasay buries last year’s heartaches, finally clinches MPBL playoff berth

Rejuvenated after a coaching change and the entry of some key additions during the offseason, the Pasay Voyagers are headed to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

The Voyagers regained their bearings in time as they secured an all-important 16th win at the expense of Mindoro Tamaraws, 84-72, late on Tuesday night in the Chooks-to-Go Lakan season at Cuneta Astrodome.

Leading the turnaround from an 8-17 season in the Datu Cup is unheralded coach Marlon Martin, who brought energetic forward Dhon Reverente from Muntinlupa and sweet-shooting big man Raymund Ilagan from Laguna to help transform the team from a struggling North division squad to to contenders.

It hardly mattered that the Voyagers will be up against either San Juan and Manila in the first round of the playoffs as they already achieved the first goal they set out this season.

Making their feat more memorable was the fact that they clinched their playoff berth in front of the Pasay faithful, led by Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano.

“I think it’s special to get this playoff spot in our home court,” Martin said. “We’re happy with the achievement and we will prepare the best way we can for the playoffs.”

San Juan closed in on home-court advantage for the entire playoffs as it held off Caloocan, 111-88, while Batangas also secured a playoff spot in the South division after dumping Bacolod, 63-54.