MAINLA – Bacolod BingoPlus bowed out of the 2022 MPBL season after a 77-65 loss to Zamboanga City Family Brand Sardines in a badly officiated do-or-die Southern Division semifinals game on Tuesday night in Zamboanga City.
The Bacolodnons were stunned with Zamboanga City’s physicality that were not being called by the referees to start the game, allowing the latter to surge to a 10-0 start behind early hits from Ralph Tansingco, Manuel Mosqueda, John Mahari and Irven Palencia.
The Zamboanga City went on with their rugged moves on the Bacolodnon as the former’s lead reached 23-7 before Bacolod got conversions from Joel Lee Yu, Kraniel Villoria and Raymund Ilagan to close the first period down, 12-26.
The poor officiating against Bacolod continued in the second period as Zamboanga widened their lead to 36-14 before Jhan Nermal anchored Bacolodnon’s mini run to cut the deficit to 29-42 at the half.
Zamboanga City created separation anew early in the third canto at 47-31 following a triple by Chito Jaime and free throws by Jerald Bautista but Bacolod had another rally behind Nermal and Ilagan to come closest at eight points.
Zamboanga City quickly responded with conversions from Palencia and Mahari to increase the lead to 61-45 but Bacolod got four straight points from Lee Yu to hang around at 49-61.
Bacolod, however, were once again at the wrong end of officiating with both stars Mark Yee and Alwyn Alday being tagged with phantom fouls that resulted to their fouling out and ejection, respectively.
Jaycee Marcelino bounced back from a subpar Game 2 as he finished with 21 markers to lead the Zamboanga City, which will face Batangas City Chill in the Southern Division finals.
Jaime chipped in 11 markers, including two triples, Tansingco contributed 10 points, while Chris Dumapig hauled nine rebounds to go with four points while also playing rugged the entire game against the Bacolodnons.
Nermal led the way for the ousted Bacolod BingoPlus with 14 points and nine rebounds, Lee Yu contributed 12 markers as Yee, Alday and Ilagan were also held to just eight markers apiece.
BOX SCORE:
ZAMBOANGA CITY 77 – JC Marcelino 21, Jaime 11, Tansingco 10, Mahari 9, JV Marcelino 6, Palencia 5, Dumapig 4, Mosqueda 3, Bautista 3, Ignacio 3, Grimaldo 2, Santos 0, Comia 0, Eguilos 0.
BACOLOD 65 – Nermal 14, Lee Yu 12, Yee 8, Alday 8, Ilagan 8, Jeruta 7, Pastias 4, Villoria 2, Solis 2, Maloles 0.
Quarterscores: 26-12, 42-29, 58-45, 77-65./PN
