Batangas five advances to Chooks-MPBL playoffs

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2020 08:10:31 +0000

BATANGAS CITY – The Batangas City Athletics gave Batanguenos something to cheer about with a 70-66 victory over the Marikina Shoemasters late Wednesday in the Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season at Batangas State University gymnasium.

Jeff Viernes shines for Batangas Athletics in their game against the Marikina Shoemasters.

Jeff Viernes shines for Batangas Athletics in their game against the Marikina Shoemasters.

Also-ran Marikina had a chance to overturn the result, but Yves Sazon’s 3-pointer with two seconds left was blocked by Jason Melano, allowing the Tanduay-backed Athletics to preserve their 16th win against 11 losses and barge into the playoffs of the South division.

Jeff Viernes, who split his free throws for a 68-66 lead with 10 seconds to go, got the ball in the ensuing scramble after the rejection and was fouled at the buzzer. He made both charities for the final count, to the relief of the packed crowd, many of whom are feeling the pinch of the recent Taal Volcano eruption, which has disrupted life in the progressive province.

Viernes finished with 15 points and 3 rebounds, followed by Jhaymo Eguilos with 13 points plus 7 rebounds, and Melano with 10 points plus 8 rebounds for the Athletics who moved ahead of the eighth-ranked Bicol Volcanoes (15-13) and beyond reach of No. 9 Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol (13-14).

Marikina dropped to 6-20 despite the 28-point, 6-rebound effort of Sazon and the 17-point, 7-rebound output of Ular.

Batangas’ advance to the next round took the spotlight out of Davao Occidental’s clinical 106-90
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