MANILA – Juan Gomez de Liaño came up with clutch baskets as Marinerong Pilipino Skippers entered the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirant’s Cup finals with a 69-64 win over Apex-San Sebastian Stags in the do-or-die semifinals on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Down 58-60 after an inside hit by Stags’ Romel Calahat, Gomez de Liaño converted back-to-back outside conversions to surge the Skippers ahead at 64-60 with over two minutes left.
The Stags trimmed the deficit to 62-64 via a layup by Alex Desoyo Jr. but Gomez de Liaño scored on another layup before Arvin Gamboa sealed the win for the Skippers with a floater.
Gomez de Liaño finished the game with 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Skippers set a best-of-three finals showdown with EcoOil-DLSU Green Archerd beginning on Sunday.
Amiel Cris Soberano chipped in 14 markers, including two outside conversions, while Jollo Go contributed 11 points, with five coming the fourth period, for the Skippers.
Calahat ended with 19 points and nine rebounds, Jessie Sumoda had double-double 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Kenneth Villapando contributed 12 for the Stags.
The Green Archers, meanwhile, punched its way to the championship round after a 97-74 rout of Adalem-St. Clare in their separate semifinals encounter.
From a close game after the opening quarter, the Green Archers created separation in the second period behind Kevin Quiambao, Michael Phillips and Evan Nelle for a 52-40 lead at the half.
The Green Archers widened the lead further in the second half with Cyrus Austria and Quiambao anchoring the offense as the lead reached its largest at 27 points in the fourth quarter.
Austria led the way with 23 points, Kevin Quiambao added 16 markers, while Michael Phillips had 14 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, five blocks and four steals for EcoOil.
BOX SCORE:
MARINERO 69 — Gomez de Liaño 23, Soberano 14, Go 11, Bonifacio 7, Cariño 6, Nocum 4, Gamboa 3, Manlangit 1, Bonsubre 0, Agustin 0, Pido 0.
APEX-SSCR 64 — Calahat 19, Sumoda 15, Villapando 12, Felebrico 6, Desoyo 6, Altamirano 3, Escobido 3, Are 0, Una 0, Yambing 0, Shanoda 0, Cosari 0.
Quarterscores: 7-11, 25-26, 44-43, 69-64./PN
