MINDORO-EOG Burlington bolstered its quarterfinal hopes with a wire-to-wire 87-73 win over GenSan at the end of its preliminary campaign in the Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Invitational at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Allen Liwag led the way with 23 markers and 14 rebounds as the Tamaraws finished Pool D play with a 4-1 card, awaiting the results of the remaining matches to determine their playoff fate.
Imus (3-1) and Manila (3-1) both hold similar chances, kicking Mindoro out of the race in case of a three-way tie should they manage to take care of Rizal and Bulacan, respectively, today.
“We did our part in the elimination round. We finished on a high note but now it’s beyond our control,” said coach Britt Reroma of the Tamaraws, whose lone loss came against Imus, 77-70.
Unbeaten Basilan-Jumbo Plastic Medical Depot also beefed up its playoff bid with a 98-95 win over Laguna-Krah Asia in Pool B behind Jay Collado’s 19 points and 12 boards.
Basilan improved to 3-0 entering its crucial last match today against fellow Pool B quarterfinal hopeful Makati FSD (2-1).
Meanwhile, Bacoor escaped with a slim 87-86 win over Negros on Jess Quilatan’s game-winner to end its Pool A campaign at 2-3.
Bacoor, GenSan (1-4) and Laguna (0-4) have been eliminated. — John Bryan Ulanday