Marinerong Pilipino draws first blood in D-League semis

Eloy Poligrates continued his renaissance, scoring 18 points to lead Marinerong Pilipino to the semifinal win. (Courtesy of PBA D-League)
Eloy Poligrates continued his renaissance, scoring 18 points to lead Marinerong Pilipino to the semifinal win. (Courtesy of PBA D-League)

CEBUANO fan-favorite Eloy Poligrates sizzled early to lead the Marinerong Pilipino to a 98-80 win over the Technological Institute of the Philippines, 98-80, to take a 1-0 lead in the 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup semifinals on Thursday, September 19, 2019, at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Discarded by his hometown Cebu Sharks in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, the Poro, Camotes-native continued to show he still has plenty left in his tank as he scored 10 of his 18 points in the first canto to give the Skippers the kick it needed to take a 17-4 lead. They are now just a win away from making the D-League finals for the very first time.

Byron Villarias produced 15 points, all on threes, while the trio of Jordan Rios, Mark Yee, and Jhonard Clarito made sure Marinerong Pilipino avoided disaster in the end game.

With the Skippers already sitting at a 32-point cushion, 64-32, with 8:39 to go in the third canto, the Engineers crawled their way back as Papa Ndiaye got them within nine, 81-72, with 6:50 left in the payoff period.

The trio, however, had other plans as they conspired for a 17-2 run to bring the lead back to 24, 98-74, with 2:23 left en route to Marinerong Pilipino's eighth straight win of the conference.

Rios supplied 12 points and 10 rebounds, Yee also got 12 points and four boards, and Clarito filled the stat sheet with 10 points, nine rebounds, six assists, five steals, and one block.

Marinerong Pilipino now has a chance to sweep the best-of-three series in Game Two on Monday, September 23.

The Scores:

MARINERONG PILIPINO 98 -- Poligrates 18, Villarias 15, Yee 12, Rios 12, Clarito 10, Alabanza 9, Diputado 7, Sara 6, Solis 4, Mangahas 2, Santillan 2, McAloney 1.

TIP 80 -- Ndiaye 30, B. Santos 12, I. Santos 10, Bonsubre 8, De Mesa 7, Monte 5, Carurucan 4, Daguro 2, Tumalip 2, Alattica 0.

Quarters: 31-15, 55-32, 75-59, 98-80. (SunStar Cebu)

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