Solid San Juan-PC Gilmore held on to a 99-91 overtime win over Marikina to punch the last ticket in the North Division playoffs of the Metro League 17-and-under boys' basketball tournament Saturday afternoon at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
After wasting a 17-point lead in regulation, Solid San Juan regained its form in overtime, outscoring the Junior Shoelanders, 18-10, to claim the hard-earned win that helped them catch the last playoff bus in the North Division of the M-League which is backed by the Metro Manila Development Authority, the Philippine Basketball Association and with Barangay 143 as league presentor.
In the other game, reigning champion Quezon City completed an elimination- round sweep after an easy 80-68 win over Navotas toformally clinch the top spot in the North Division of the M-League that is also bankrolled by Synergy 88, World Balance, Excellent Noodles and San Miguel Corporation as major sponsors.
The victories beautifully set up Quezon City and Solid San Juan-PC Gilmore against each other in the North Division semifinals slated June 8 at a still-to-be announced venue with the Junior Capitals having the twice-to-beat advantage.
Quezon City barely beat Solid San Juan-PC Gilmore 79-75 in their elimination round meeting last May 30 in the latter’s homecourt.
Reynald Teodoro paced Solid San Juan-PC Gilmore with 21 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals while Tracy Rich Rodenas also chipped in 18 markers.
Rico Noel Mayono also added 18 points, three rebounds and six assists including the dagger basket in the last 45 seconds of overtime to seal the deal for Solid San Juan which improved to 2-3 card and secured the fourth and last ticket to the North Division semifinals.
Andre Militar, on the other hand, posted 30 points, five rebounds and eight assists in a wasted cause for the Shoelanders who got booted out of contention with 1-4 mark also in the North Division.
The troika of Hans Valdez, Mark Pastrana and Alfonso Buot, meanwhile, led the way for QC which wrapped up its elimination schedule unscathed with a 5-0 record after making short work of winless Navotas.
Valdez scored 22 points while Pastrana and Buot racked up 19 markers apiece for the Junior Capitals who were the only undefeated team going into the playoffs of the M-League which also has SMS Global Technologies, Inc. as official livestream and technology partner, Spalding as official ball, Team Rebel Sports as official outfitter, PLDT as official internet service provider and Manila Bulletin as media partner.
Jerwin Villanueva had his 20 points went down the drain in the fifth loss in as many games of Navotas which finished at the cellar of the M-League that is also supported by Gerry’s Grill, Summit Water, Alcoplus, Nature’s Spring and Goodfellow.