By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Negros Muscovados faltered to the Quezon Huskers, 73-60, in Game 1 of the MPBL Southern Division quarterfinals at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City late Monday night, October 7.

LJay Gonzales tallied a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds to go with four assists, three steals and a block as the Huskers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

“‘Yung challenge para sa amin [going to this series] is kung papaano sila dedepensahan. Kaya talagang nag-prepare kami, nag-ready talaga kami para sa playoffs,” Gonzales said in his Player of the Game interview.

“Siguro same approach and same mentality pa din kami [sa Game 2]. Kahit na wala kami sa Quezon, gagawin naming inspirasyon ‘yung fans namin para maipanalo namin ‘yung series,” he added.

Judel Fuentes led the way for Quezon with 17 points, including three three-pointers, to go with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Gab Banal contributed 10 markers.

The Huskers set the tone in the opening period as they took a 20-11 advantage before maintaining their aggression in the second frame to establish a 37-27 heading into the break.

The Muscovados still tried to keep the match close in the second half as they cut the deficit to nine points, but the Huskers responded with their own hits as the lead reached its biggest at 21 points at 69-48.

Renz Palma finished with a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Muscovados, while Felipe Chavez and Alvin Capobres contributed 10 markers apiece for the Muscovados.

Game 2 of the Huskers-Muscovados series is slated in Zamboanga City on October 14./ASC, WDJ

QUEZON 73 — Fuentes 17, Gonzales 14, Banal 10, Abundo 7, Sandagon 6, Gravera 6, Ibañez 5, Minerva 4, Alcala 2, Bunag 2, Opiso 0, Canon 0, Placino, Rono, Salonga 0.

NEGROS 60 — Palma 12, Chavez 10, Capobres 10, Raflores 7, Caunan 6, Formento 6, Espanola 3, Gabriel 2, Ramos 2, Peralta 2, Villanueva 0, Longa 0, Cruz 0.

Quarterscores: 20-11, 37-27, 57-43, 73-60.