By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Quezon Huskers leaned on a strong second half performance to eliminate the Negros Muscovados, 94-66, in Game 2 of the MPBL Southern Division quarterfinals at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City on Monday night, October 14.
Robin Roño caught fire in the last two quarters to finish with 15 points, including three three-point conversions, to go with six rebounds and one assist as the Huskers wrapped up the best-of-three series, 2-0, and moved on to the Southern Division semifinals.
“Nung first quarter sobrang alat [ng shooting] namin eh, so we keep on playing lang and ‘yung good habits namin sa defense,” Roño said during his Player of the Game interview.
“Credit din sa coaching staff dahil sa magandang game plan, ‘yung defense talaga namin ang nagpanalo sa amin,” added Roño, who was a member of the Muscovados team last season.
RJ Minerva led the way for Quezon with 16 points to go with four rebounds and three assists, Al Francis Tamsi contributed 15 markers, and Mon Alvin Abundo also delivered 10 markers in the win.
Down 16-21 after the opening quarter, the Huskers turned things around in the second period with a 28-10 scoring blast as they established a 44-31 advantage heading into the break.
The Huskers continued their run in the third period behind Minerva and Tamsi to widen the lead to 64-42 before it reached the largest lead at 35 points at 90-55 on a Minerva triple.
“We played the right way regardless of the situation, nag-deliver sila, nag-respond sila. So talagang mas convincing win ito para sa amin,” Huskers head coach Eric Gonzales said.
Felipe Chavez finished with 20 points to go with eight rebounds, while John Rey Villanueva added 11 markers as the Muscovados ended their campaign this season./ASC, WDJ
QUEZON 94 — Minerva 16, Roño 15, Tamsi 15, Abundo 10, Gravera 8, Ibañez 8, Bunag 8, Banal 5, Sandagon 4, Canon 3, Placino 2, Fuentes 0, Gonzales 0, Lagrama 0.
NEGROS 66 — Chavez 20, Villanueva 11, Longa 9, Reyes 7, Caunan 4, Peralta 3, Palma 3, Espanola 2, Formento 2, Ramos 2, Capobres 2, Raflores 1, Lorenzo 0, Gania 0, Atabay 0.
Quarterscores: 16-21, 44-31, 64-42, 94-66.