THE QUEZON Red Oilers avoided an early exit after beating host and higher ranked team Lipa-Batangas Barakos with a 97-90 victory in the Wildcard Phase of the 2008 Liga Pilipinas Smart Playoffs held at the University Lipa Cultural Center.
Today, it is the turn of Baguio Victory to make it to the quarterfinal round as they host the Iloilo Mang Inasals at the University of Baguio, while the Barakos will try to close out their series again at Lipa Cultural Center.
Quezon’s new recruit Ryan Regalado powered Red Oilers’ survival as the 5-foot-11 former UM Hawks shooting guard scattered 24 points on a 9-of-16 shooting clip including a 6-of-10 conversion from the three point area.
However, it was the rousing 2-2-1 full court trapping defense that caught the Barakos flat-footed.
The winner of the Lipa vs. Quezon game will face Pampanga in the quarterfinals. (RCM
