MANILA – BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare Saints cruised to a 112-100 win over McDavid-La Salle Araneta en route to clinching a playoffs seat in the 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the San Juan Arena.
The Saints surged to its fourth straight win in as many games in Group B.
Joshua Fontanilla went 3-of-7 shooting from the three-point area to finish with 24 points to go along with six assists and three steals.
Irven Palencia added 14 points. Clarence Tiquia and Junjie Hallare had 12 each, and Malian big man Mohammad Pare notched a double-double with his 13 points, 17 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
Even with the playoff-clinching victory, Saints head coach Stevenson Tiu berated his squad’s defense; they allowed the McDavid-La Salle Araneta to go on a 44-percent shooting clip.
“Taken for granted nila ‘yung defense. May moments na good pero may times na nagpapabaya. Kailangan ma-check namin ‘yung tendencies na ganyan,” Tiu said. “Sinabi ko na i-treat natin ang every team as a challenge.”
With the Saints’ defense caught napping, the McDavid-La Salle Araneta went on a late rally behind Henry Iloka as the turned a deficit as high as 24 points to a 100-110 score but the time was not enough.
The Nigerian Iloka wound up with 32 points, 28 rebounds, and six blocks, while Eduardo Doroteo chipped in 22 points, seven boards, and two assists for MCDavid-La Salle Araneta (0-4)./PN
