Basilan ended its elimination round stint with a breezy 89-71 victory over also-ran Paranaque on Friday in the Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season at the Marikina Sports Center.
Gab Dagangon shone from afar while Jay Collado ruled underneath as the Jumbo Plastics-supported Steel posted their 20th win against 10 losses and secured third seed in the South division playoffs.
Dagangon scored 26 points, built on six triples, to complement Collado’s 15-rebound, 11-point effort and hand the Steel the homecourt advantage in the eight team playoffs.
Michole Sorela added 12 points and Anthony Bringas contributed 6 points and 11 rebounds as the Steel, being mentored by Jerson Cabiltes, crashed the boards, 66-48.
The Yabo Sports-backed Patriots closed their campaign in the 31-team field with an 8-22 card.
Though out of contention, Bacolod Master’s Sardines played with gusto and led all the way in a 76-69 conquest of the Bulacan Kuyas.
Jess Mar Villahermosa scored 14 while Jerick Canada and Simon Camacho added 10 each as the Bacolodnons pounced on the Kuyas’ listless stand to close out with an 11-19 slate in the South.
The Kuyas ended up as sixth seed in the North division with a 19-11 card.
Renato Ular soared for a two-handed follow-up slam with 24.6 seconds left to power the Marikina Shoemasters over the pesky Sarangani Marlins, 99-95, in the nightcap to improve to 7-23 on their way out.
The high-leaping 6-foot-3 former Letran Knight finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds for Marikina, which also got 16 points from Von Tambeling, 13 from Yves Sazon and 12 from Daryl Pascual.
Sarangani, which fell to 1-28, drew 23 points from Orin Catacutan and 20 points plus 11 rebounds from Pari Llagas.
