The Marinerong Pilipino Skippers advanced to the 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup finals following a 96-79 win over the TIP Engineers last Monday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
John Byron Villarias drained seven three-pointers for Marinerong Pilipino en route to finishing with a conference-high 25 markers; Jhonard Clarito produced 13 points, three rebounds, and three assists; William McAloney supplied 11 points and seven boards; and Santi Santillan added 10 markers.
“We’re happy na nasa finals kami pero mas masaya siguro kung makuha namin ‘yung championship (We’re happy to be in the finals but we will be happier if we win the championship),” said Marinerong Pilipino head coach Yong Garcia
From a slim 61-58 lead midway in the third period, Marinerong Pilipino broke away after Villarias drained eight points in a decisive 17-0 scoring run for a 78-58 spread heading into the fourth.
The lead grew further in the final quarter as Marinerong Pilipino went on to lead by as much as 28 points.
They now await the winner of the series between the CEU Scorpions and BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare Saints./ASC, WDJ