BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare proved too much for an outmatched Hyperwash in their quarterfinals duel in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup yesterday.
The Saints made mincemeat of the hapless Vipers, scoring a merciless 180-117 beatdown to clinch a semifinals slot in the season-ending tourney at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Chris Dumapig led 11 other teammates in double-digits with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists while James Manacho had 18 markers, five boards, and two dimes for BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare, which went into the match armed with a twice-to-beat advantage.
Jhaps Bautista, Joseph Penaredondo, and Junjie Hallare also added 18, 17, and 14 points, respectively as the Saints forged a best-of-3 semis battle with Centro Escolar University.
The semis start this Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
In the other game, Technological Institute of the Philippines clobbered Black Mamba 82-71 to complete the semis cast.
Senegalese import Papa Ndiaye barely missed a double-double with 22 points and nine caroms while Rey De Mesa chipped in 12 markers, five rebounds, and two assists. Bryan Santos also had 10 points for TIP, which will coincidentally battle Marinerong Pilipino, a team where the Engineers formed a partnership with in the same tourney last year.
The Saints’ eye-popping 180-point output is the highest ever scored in D-League play history, breaking the 161 points they also set last Sept. 5 in their 161-122 shellacking of the Black Mamba Energy Drink.
BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare’s 108 second half points also shattered the previous high of 95 for most points scored in a half, while its 60-point third quarter also eclipsed the most points in a quarter, the 53 points recorded by Tanduay in 2017.
While pleased that his wards advanced to the semis, Saints coach Stevenson Tiu was not entirely satisfied.
“Happy ako na pumasok kami sa semis pero hindi na naman kami na-push to the limit,” said Tiu.
“Pagdating sa semis, I don’t think magagawa namin ito. Iyon lang naman ang concern,” he added.
BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare took a 72-51 spread at the half and padded its lead to 178-112 on a Manacho free throw in the final 51 seconds.
Former pro JR Cawaling paced the Vipers with 27 points while Lendmark Montilla, Abubakar Dadjilul, and Lord Casajeros had 22, 18, and 10, respectively.
