Marinero stuns Racal with final blow

PBA

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Achie Iñigo scored the game-winning layup as Marinerong Pilipino shocked Racal, 72-71, in the nightcap of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup games at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Thursday.

Iñigo's winner capped the game-deciding 11-0 run that completed the Skippers' comeback from a late 10-point Alibaba lead.

Down 61-71 with three minutes left, Iñigo teamed up with Joseph Marata for Marinero's final push, setting up the former Kaohsiung point guard, heroics with 44.2 seconds left.

Racal actually had one more chance to steal the win, but Jamil Ortuoste missed a right corner triple with 7.3 seconds left as Marinero milked the clock in the end.

Iñigo scored 10 of his 14 points in the payoff period on top of seven assists and five rebounds, while Marata, who scored two booming triples within the said endgame barrage by the Skippers, added 10 markers as they snapped a three-game skid and moved up to 2-4.

Gwynne Capacio led the Alibaba, whose head coach Jerry Codinera was with the Arellano Chiefs in an NCAA game that was played almost simultaneously with theirs, with 13 points.

Box Scores:

Marinerong Pilipino 72-Iñigo 14, Isip 12, Marata 10, Sargent 10, Javillonar 7, Lopez 6, Javelona 5, Alabanza 4, Moralde 4, Gumaru 0, Publico 0

Racal 71-Capacio 13, Gomez 10, Lozada 10, Apreku 9, Ortuoste 7, Tallo 7, Ayonayon 5, Pontejos 4, Cortes 3, Mangahas 2, Faundo 1, Dela Cruz 0, Grimaldo 0

Quarterscores: 18-19, 38-36, 53-56, 72-71

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