MANILA – Bacoor City Strikers eliminated Iloilo United Royals, 72-61, in the do-or-die Game 3 of the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Southern Division quarterfinals on Saturday night at the STRIKE Gym in Bacoor, Cavite.
Jhaymo Eguilos posted double-double numbers of 13 points and 12 rebounds to go with three assists and one block to be named Player of the Game as the Strikers finished off the best-of-three series, 2-1.
“Sinigurado namin na hindi na mawawala ‘yung lamang namin kasi, nung Game 1, lumamang kami ng 23 points pero natalo pa din kami,” said Eguilos. “Yung ang kailangan namin din iwasan sa semifinals.”
James Canlas Kwekuteye led the way for the No. 1 seed Strikers with 15 points, while Negrense Jhan McHale Nermal waxed hot in the second half to tally double-double 11 points and 12 rebounds in the win.
The Strikers of head coach Alex Angeles will next face Zamboanga City Family’s Brand Sardines, which entered the Southern Division semifinals by defeating Quezon Huskers, 88-76.
The Strikers jumped to a 16-7 start behind triples from Michael Canete and Yvan Ludovice. The United Royals rallied to within 11-16 but a triple by Chito Jaime and an inside hit by Eguilos widened Bacoor City’s lead to 22-12.
Bacoor City continued its run in the second quarter behind triples from Kwekuteye, Ludovice and Nermal as the lead reached 37-20 but Iloilo City answered back with consecutive baskets to cut the deficit to 29-41 at the half.
Iloilo pulled even closer early in the third quarter as they cut the deficit to 35-45 after a triple from Joshua Flores but Bacoor City responded with baskets from Nermal, Eguilos and Ilonggo Aaron Jeruta to increase the lead to 55-36.
The United Royals continued to threaten in the fourth quarter as they cut the deficit to as low as 11 points several times but the Strikers had their answers to secure the division semifinals seat.
Flores top-scored for the United Royals with 15 points, including two three-point conversions, while Conrad Catapusan had a near double-double of 10 points and nine rebounds./PN
BOX SCORE:
BACOOR 72 – Kwekuteye 15, Eguilos 13, Nermal 11, Canete 9, Ludovice 8, Jaime 6, Alday 5, Jeruta 3, Yee 2, Lee Yu 0, Pasturan 0.
ILOILO 61 – Flores 15, Catapusan 10, Imperial 8, Ongteco 6, Larupay 6, Armenion 6, Javelosa 4, Basco 3, Navarro 2, Madrigal 1, Sumido 0, Nunez 0.
Quarterscores: 22-12, 41-29, 58-44, 72-61.
