Saints bag q’finals bonus

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GO Torakku-St. Clare brought its A-Game against a familiar foe and achieved a lofty goal yesterday.

Propped up by a third-quarter binge, the Saints manhandled Keanzel Basketball to gain the last twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

“Must-win ito sa amin kasi kung natalo kami, possible pa ang three-way tie sa No. 1 to 4,” Go Torakku-St. Clare coach Jinino Manansala said. “Ang sabi ko lang sa players, nakakalaro namin sila sa mother league namin at maganda naman ang ipinapakita namin.“Huwag nating baguhin. Ito ang resulta. Noong second half, umalagwa na,” he added.

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The Saints finished their eliminations stint with a 2-3 slate for fourth and will enjoy a win-once bonus against CCI-Yengskivel in the quarterfinals next week.

CCI (1-3), by virtue of a an 84-118loss to St. Clare, is stuck at No. 5 regardless of the result of its last match at press time against CEU (3-1), which is still in the running for the top two and an automatic berths in the semifinals with defending two-time champion EcoOil La Salle (4-0) and Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda University (3-1).

Cellar-dweller Keanzel, winless in five games, will be drawn against either of the three mentioned semis hopefuls set to be relegated to third seed albeit with a similar twice-to-beat edge in the Last Six.

Go Torakku-St. Clare hardly needed the services of reinforcement Babacar Ndong, who sat out the match, as five players took charge, led by Eugene Cabauatan who had 19 points, including seven in the third, laced by seven rebounds and two steals.

Earl Yu poured 10 of his 13 markers in the same period, Charles Burgos chipped in a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Megan Galang and Kint Manzano added 11 and 10, respectively, for St. Clare that turned the close duel to a bloodbath in the second half.

After a manageable 48-39 cushion at the break, the Saints launched a 26-4 blitz to pull away at 74-43 and led by as many as 39 points from there on for the easy win.

Denzel Wong fired 31 points for Keanzel Basketball, while Alfren Gayosa had 17.

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