By Jonas Terrado
Games Monday
(Paco Arena, Manila)
1:30 p.m. — TIP vs Marinerong Pilipino
3:30 p.m. — CEU vs Sumisip-St. Clare
BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare moved on the cusp of making the PBA D-League Foundation Cup Finals after beating Centro Escolar University, 86-70, in the opener of their best-of-three semifinals at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare’s Joshua Fontanilla, left, tries to block CEU’s Jerome Santos. (PBA Images)
The St. Clare trio of Mohammad Pare, Joshua Fontanilla and Junjie Hallare and veterans Jhaps Bautista, Jesse Collado and Chris Dumapig led the way as the Saints frustrated the Scorpions on their way to another double-digit victory.
Coach Stevenson Tiu was surprised with how his team was able to set the tempo early.
“In-expect ko mas aggressive sana sila but parang first quarter pa lang mas controlled namin yung game (I expected CEU to be more aggressive than us but we were able to control the game right from the start),” said Tiu.
Sumisip-St. Clare, which remained unbeaten after eight matches this conference, can close out CEU with a victory on Monday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Pare had 19 points and seven rebounds, Fontanilla produced 14 points, five rebounds and six assists and Hallare added 11 points for the Saints.
Bautista scored 10 points and Collado and Dumapig combined for 17 points and 21 rebounds.
Senegalese center Maodo Malick Diouf posted 12 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, six steals and three blocks but the Scorpions fell behind 46-37 at the half after being outscored by the Saints, 13-3, in the final 5:42 of the second period.
Hesed Gabo capped off Sumisip-St. Clare’s dominance by hitting a running three with the shot clock winding down for 85-68, 1:12 to go in the fourth.
Scores:
SUMISIP-ST. CLARE 86 — Pare 19, Fontanilla 14, Hallare 11, Bautista 10, Collado 9, Dumapig 8, Gabo 7, Rubio 5, Manacho 3, Penaredondo 0, Batino 0.
CEU 70 — Diouf 12, Santos 11, Guinitaran 8, Diaz 8, Tuadles 8, Sunga 7, Escalona 6, Bernabe 5, Tagal 5, De Ocampo 0, Murillo 0, Espiritu 0.
Quarters: 21-23; 46-37; 65-55; 86-70.
Tags: 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup , BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare , CEU Scorpions
