The presence of three new players in its roster has made Basilan-Jumbo Plastic Medical Depot a formidable squad in the Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Invitationals.
No one has scouted them before their short season started and not one team was able to gauge the games of the likes of former collegiate standouts Encho Serrano, Michael Juico and Jay-R Taganas.
With Mindoro-EOG Burlington somewhat unfamiliar with the games of the Basilan trio, Jumbo Plastic Medical Depot pulled off a 77-72 win during their quarterfinal encounter Tuesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“It’s the surprise that our new players like Encho has provided us. They have not been scouted. And this will make a lot of difference,” said Basilan coach Jerson Cabiltes after they marched to their sixth straight victory and arranged a semifinal showdown with another unbeaten squad, the Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors.
The Realtors were the first in the semis after they unseated the defending champion San Juan, 70-66.
The 5’11” Serrano, a former La Salle guard, is among the scoring leaders with Juico with his average of 16 points.
Against Mindoro, Serrano showed the way in the closing minute of the last two periods, with his two freebies in the last 39 seconds of the third putting Basilan ahead by 12, 60-48.
In the last 3:49 of the fourth, Serrano’s putback handed Basilan a comfortable 74-61 edge.
Juico, an acquisition from San Sebastian College, knocked in 12 points to compliment Jay Collado’s 13.
And it was Juico’s driving layup in the last 8:16, which kept Basilan ahead by eight, 64-56.
The 6’3” Taganas, a former San Beda forward, also proved to be a formidable teammate with his six-point and 12-rebound contribution.
It was Taganas’ inside plays which kept Basilan ahead by 11 points, 72-61, in the final 4:39.
“’Yung defense namin, we made it very hard for them to score on halfcourt sets na talagang pinagaralan namin kagabi and then kanina before the game, nag-viewing pa kami to show the players how they run,” said Cabiltes.
In another quarterfinal play, Nueva Ecija repulsed Iloilo, 84-67, to arrange a semis clash with Imus, which routed Bicol, 74-57.
