FULGENT in the single round-robin elimination phase, the Batangas City Embassy Chill posted its tenth victory by relying on the prolific scoring of Levi Hernandez during regulation play and Juneric Baloria and Cedric Ablaza during extra time.

In the OKbet-MPBL 4th Season in the Batangas City Coliseum on Monday, Batangas City overcame a ten-game losing streak by defeating Zamboanga, 87-83, in overtime.

Hernandez scored a career-high 36 points as Batangas overcame an early 19-point deficit (25-35) to lead 72-69 in the final minutes before Jaycee Marcelino of the Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines and Adrian Santos split two rebounds to secure the extension. 

Zamboanga was defeated for the second time in a row and dropped to 8-2 behind Batangas in the South division as Ablaza and Baloria filled in for Hernandez, who was hindered by cramping.

Ablaza, who went scoreless in the opening period, concluded with 14 points and a game-high 21 rebounds, while Baloria delivered for Batangas Coach Cholo Villanueva with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and blocks. 

Jaycee Marcelino scored 26 points for Zamboanga, and Japz Bautista added 12 points, including seven in overtime. 

Pasig defeated Marikina 81-79 in a previous match, and San Juan Go for Gold defeated Makati 95-85. 

To improve to 6-3 in the North division, Pasig had 21 points each from Jun Manzo and Rey Anthony Peralta, 12 points from Robbie Manalang, and 10 points and 14 rebounds from Jason Melano.

Despite Yves Sazon’s 25 points and 11 rebounds, Nhomer Gonzales’ 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Antonio Joson’s 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, Marikina dropped to 2-8. 

The San Juan Knights, who were behind by as many as 18 points, 13-31, found their groove in the fourth quarter to improve to 6-4 and officially eliminate Makati (1-11) from quarterfinal contention.

St. Clare shocks San Sebastian to claim the No. 3 place, with John Rojas in the lead.

In the eliminations, St. Clare finished third, with John Rojas taking the lead.

Construction firm ADALEM-St. At the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, on Tuesday, Clare defeated Apex Fuel-San Sebastian 80-66 to clinch the No. 3 place in the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup playoffs.

With a slim lead at halftime, the Saints unleashed a devastating third-quarter assault to seize control and seal a 4-3 victory.

With 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists, John Edcel Rojas led the way for Adalem-St. In the process, Clare gained the upper side of the quarterfinals bracket, where she now has a twice-to-beat advantage. 

Veteran Joshua Fontanilla added 14 points, four assists, and four steals, and NAASCU MVP Johnsherick Estrada contributed 19 points, all in the second half, to help St. Clare end San Sebastian’s five-game winning streak. 

The strong coach Jinino Manansala recounts: “Simula pa lang alam ko na win or go home kami. Kung manalo kami, No. 3. Pero kung matalo, 99.9 percent na maa-out kami. Sabi ko lang sa mga bata, naglalaro sila nang maayos pero ’di lang maka-finish nang maganda.”

“We know we have to go all out and this time, nakuha namin. Ngayon, maganda na napuntahan namin at twice-to-beat.”

With a 4-3 win-loss record, Johnsherick Estrada and the Saints finish the eliminations.

The Saints, led by Rojas, Estrada, and Fontanilla, regained their rhythm in the third quarter, turning a tenuous 36-35 lead at the half into a comfortable 60-51 advantage that they even extended to their largest lead of the game at 77-61 coming home.

The Saints, who have emerged as a revelation in this conference by defeating Apex Fuel-San Sebastian to secure the top seed and an outright semi final place, were the second team to defeat Apex Fuel-San Sebastian after Marinerong Pilipino. 

Romel Calahat and Jessie Sumoda led the Golden Stags, who finished the eliminations at 5-2, with 19 and 14 points, respectively.

GAME SCORES:

Adalem-St. Clare scores 80

Individual Scores: Rojas 20, Estrada 19, Fontanilla 14, Gamboa 8, Estacio 7, Sumagaysay 6, Ndong 2, Manacho 2, Lopez 2, Galang 0, Sablan 0.

Apex Fuel – San Sebastian 66

Individual Scores: Calahat 19, Sumoda 14, Altamirano 7, Are 6, Yambing 5, Shanoda 4, Desoyo 4, Felebrico 4, Garcia 3, Escobido 0, Cosari 0, Paglinawan 0.

Scores per quarter: 12-15; 36-35; 60-51; 80-66.