MANILA – Basilan-Jumbo Plastic Steel drew first blood in the 2019-2020 Chooks-to-Go/ Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Season South semifinals after a 77-63 Game 1 win over Bacoor City Strikers at the RMC Petrogazz Gymnasium in Davao City on March 2.
Allyn Bulanadi spearheaded Basilan with 23 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, while his teammate Hesed Gabo chipped in 13 points, six assists, three rebounds, along with three turnovers.
Having witnessed Basilan’s 12 point lead trim down to as low as 53-54, Bulanadi spearheaded the Steel with a 23-6 offensive barrage via a three-point bomb to separate his team from Bacoor at 77-59.
Gabo, Japs Bautista and Jay Collado were also the culprits in the scoring run that gave Basilan a 17-point advantage – its biggest in the game.
“I just told the boys to stay composed and to continue what we’re doing right, which is to put pressure on the ball,” said Steel head coach Jerson Cabiltes.
Meanwhile, Davao Occidental Tigers also took its first win of the semifinals series against Zamboanga Family Brand Sardines in a very low scoring affair of 47-28.
Emman Calo was the lone double-digit scorer with 12 points to go along with seven rebounds, while Ilonggo Billy Ray Robles contributed eight markers for the Tigers./PN
