Header Ads Widget

QC completes shock sweep of Makati in MPBL playoffs

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—After building a record-setting 15-game winning streak, Makati suffered the worst two-game skid it could get as the team kissed its Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League hopes goodbye.

Quezon City completed a shock 2-0 sweep of Makati in the first round of the Northern Division Playoffs with a 77-74 Game 2 win at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City on Monday night.

The seventh-seeded Capitals recovered from an early blitz by the second-seeded Skyscrapers and eventually soared over them to become the second lower seeded team to enter the league quarterfinals.

Looking to bounce back from its stinging Game 1 defeat, Makati went on a 13-4 run to start Game 2.

But QC slowly bounced back and went full throttle in the second quarter with a 27-15 romp to go up, 42-35, at halftime.

The Capitals held the Skyscrapers at bay for most of the third quarter and finally pulled away with a 10-point advantage, 71-61, with 2:35 to play before holding their opponents off in the end.

Andoy Estrella fired 19 points, one rebound, and six assists for QC.

Jomar Santos added a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds with one assist and one steal.

Ced Ablaza and Jaycee Asuncion each fired 15 markers for Makati, whose debut season highlighted by a league record 15-game winning streak came to an abrupt end.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno