MARINERONG Pilipino-San Beda clobbered Keanzel Basketball, 127- 67 and Go Torakku-St. Clare dispatched CCI-Yengskivel, 114-106, in the quarterfinals Monday night to advance in the Final Four of the 2024 PBA D League Aspirants’ Cup at the Filoil EcoOil Center in San Juan.
Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda set up a rematch against Cenro Escolar University, while Go Torakku-St. Clare will face top seed and two-time defending champion EcoOil-La Salle in the best-of-three series that begin Thursday.
The Red Lions and the Saints advanced to the quarterfinals with a twice-to-beat advantage but didn’t need an extra game to accomplish their goals.
Nygel Gonzales tallied 17 points to lead six others in double-digit scoring for the Red Lions, who asserted themselves early on but needed a big run in the third to shut down their upset conscious rivals.
A 17-8 run to open the third put away Keanzel Basketball, which pulled within 33-39 late in the second quarter. The lead ballooned to 82-51 entering the fourth.
The Saints also appeared headed for an easy win when they stormed to a 15-point advantage at halftime. But CCI-Yengskivel refused to go away quietly.
Not a game this important.
The Crusaders fought back behind Jhone Amansec, Kenneth Tener and Julius Valderama to stay in the game, 43-47, entering the fourth.
But Go Torakku-St. Clare outplayed their rivals in the fourth to wrap up the victory.
Game Thursday
(Ynares Arena, Pasig City)
4:30 p.m.: Go Torakku-St.Clare vs EcoOil-La Salle
7:30 p.m. – CEU vs Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda