Tsingtao Boyz zeroes in on No. 1 seeding

A Tsingtao Boyz player is hemmed in by two Docomo Pacific defenders during their game in the 2019 One Pacific Promotional Basketball League last Saturday at the Civic Center Court. (Kimberly A. Bautista)

Tsingtao Boyz prevailed in its last match in the regular season of the 2019 One Pacific Promotional Basketball League after topping Docomo Pacific, 63-47, last weekend at the Civic Center Court.

Tsingtao finished the round-robin elimination with a 9-2 record to keep the top spot and unofficially take the No. 1 seeding in the playoff round. Only the Top 8 teams will advance to the next round and Tsingtao will meet the last qualifier in the single-elimination playoffs. Docomo fell to a 2-7 record and may need to sweep its last two games to remain in playoff contention.

The Docomo-Tsingtao game was back to square one at halftime, 21-all, before the latter took control in the third quarter. Tsingtao scored 28 points in the third frame for make up for its 7-point output in the second. Ed Pangelinan showed the way for Tsingtao in the pivotal period after drilling 9 points, while Jetzen Jandoc contributed 7.

Jandoc top-scored for Tsingtao with his 20 points, while Pangelinan added 14. Deleon Guerrero led Docomo with his 17 markers.

Gilas Batang 59, Mawati 55

Gilas Batang finally made it to the win column after stunning Mawati.

Gilas Batang used a 20-9 scoring run in the first quarter as cushion to beat Mawati and notch its first victory in the league after going 0-8.

Alken Ege delivered early for Gilas Batang after recording 9 points in the first quarter. Mawati, on the other hand, got off to a bad start after making only four field goals inn the opening canto.

Mawati picked up its scoring in the last three quarters, but Gilas Batang hung on to the lead to break its losing skid, leaving Light & Salt as the only team without a victory in the 12-squad field.

Ege paced Gilas Batang with his 17 points, while Ray Velasco led the way for Mawati with his 15 markers.

First Game
Gilas Batang 59—Ege 17, Lumanlam 11, Alure 6, Tibayan 6, Acosta 6, Estores 4, De Jesus 3, Rosario 2, Dacumos 2, Hernandez 2.
Mawati 55—Velasco 15, Ferrer 11, Directo 8, Quizon 6, Gontar 5, Reyes 3, Enriquez 3, Nonato 2, Avila 2.
Scoring by quarters: 20-9, 35-32, 46-44, 69-55.

Second Game
Tsingtao Boyz 63—Jandoc 20, Pangelinan 14, Pineda 9, Giron 8, Broncano 4, Rivera 3, Demonteverde 3, Ariar 2.
Docomo Pacific 47—Deleon Guerrero 17, Grow 8, Manibusan 6, Lukas 6, Sanciangco 4, Sanchez 2, Mendiola 2, Kaipat 2.
Scoring by quarters: 14-9, 21-21, 49-36, 63-47.