MANILA – Basilan Steel leaned on the torrid shooting of Allyn Bulanadi to eliminate Bacoor Strikers, 84-76, and to barge into the 2020 Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan South Division Finals at the STRIKE Gymnasium in Bacoor Cavite on March 7.
Bulanadi erupted with 35 points built on six triples, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal for Basilan to reach the best-of-three South Finals against Davao Occidental Tigers.
Grasping to a one-point lead at 66-65 in the final quarter, Basilan’s Jhapz Bautista drained a triple, but it was then answered by Bacoor’s Ian Melencio with the same shot. Bautista’s teammate Bobby Balucanag converted a layup in the next possession before Melencio initiated another long bomb to knot the game at 71-all with 2:49 left.
Bulanadi then converted three treys – from the left corner, from the top of the arc and an off the screen one-legged leaning shot – to build an 80-71 advantage with 1:31 remaining in the game.
Meanwhile, Joseph Sedurifa came alive in the overtime period for Makati Super Crunch to earn a ticket in the North Finals via a 78-75 win over Manila-Frontrow Stars in their do-or-die semifinals at the San Andreas Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
The Cebuano Sedurifa, who previously played for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association, drained three beyond-the-arc baskets in the extension period to give Makati a 78-73 advantage. Manila then shortened the scoring gap to 75-78 on a basket by Chris Bitoon.
After that, Sedurifa committed a five-second inbound violation on the other end, giving the Stars one last chance to salvage a victory. However, Manila’s Aris Dionisio blew up his three-point attempt on the other end.
Sedurifa finished the match with 12 points, with nine coming in the overtime period, to go along with five rebounds, four blocks and three assists for Makati.
The team will now face the San Juan Knights in the best-of-three North finals series./PN
