Games Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
Game 3 of Best-of-3 Semifinals
9 a.m. – Marinerong Pilipino vs Apex Fuel-San Sebastian
11 a.m. – EcoOil-La Salle vs Adalem Construction-St. Clare
Adalem Construction-St. Clare and Apex Fuel-San Sebastian lived to fight another day in the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup semifinals by hurdling their respective foes Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum to force a winner-take-all Game Three.
Johnsherick Estrada and Joshua Fontanilla made sure the Saints stayed alive as they repulsed EcoOil-La Salle, 72-64.
Ichie Altamirano also went on a hot streak in the final 5:29 to help the Golden Stags take the 82-74 win over Marinerong Pilipino.
Estrada unloaded 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, as well as six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal, while Fontanilla got 21 points, seven coming in the final canto, to go with three boards, a steal, and a rejection to lead Adalem-St. Clare.
“Alam namin na tatapusin ni Josh and Estrada ‘yung game, pero dapat lahat ‘yan magsimula sa depensa,” said Saints’ coach Jinino Manansala.
Senegalese center Babacar Ndong also hauled down 15 rebounds as his side survived the Green Archers’ 23-point third quarter fightback.
Altamirano, meanwhile, poured eight of his 13 points in that crucial stretch, to go with four rebounds and four assists as Apex Fuel-San Sebastian overturned a 71-68 deficit to a 78-71 edge with 2:07 on the clock.
“The effort, palaging nasa kanila. When you work hard, good things will happen,” said coach Egay Macaraya.
Romel Calahat paced the Golden Stags with a double-double of 15 points and 10 boards, Jesse Sumoda collected 14 points, eight rebounds, and three steals, and Alex Desoyo and Rafael Are combined for 20 in this big win to finally get one over the Skippers after losing in the eliminations, 86-74, and in Game 1 last Friday, 74-66.
Both sudden deaths are set this Wednesday at the same venue.
Ben Phillips led EcoOil-La Salle with 15 points and six rebounds, while Kevin Quiambao was limited to just nine points, four steals, three boards, and three assists in the loss.
This was also a missed opportunity for the Skippers which leaned on Jollo Go scoring 28 points on 5-of-9 clip from beyond the arc.
