PBA D-League: Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda rips Wangs-Letran, forces do-or-die semis Game 3

Pete Alfaro helped Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda preserve its lead against Wangs-Letran. PBA Images

By John Rhey Piamonte

SAN JUAN, MM—With their back against the wall, Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda pulled off a stunning second-half surge that clobbered their archrival Wangs Basketball Strikers-Letran with a wide 74-51 victory and forced a winner-take-all Game 3 in the 2023 PBA Aspirants’ Cup semifinals on Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Reeling from a 24-point meltdown in Game 1, San Beda displayed splendid basketball on both ends of the floor that was capped off by a dominating fourth-quarter run, 73-49, and never looked back from there. 

"On that second half run, we made sure that we keep our aggressiveness and maintain our composure as well so we could match up the energy of Letran," Red Lions team captain Pete Alfaro said. 

Alfaro paved the way for the Red Lions as he delivered in the clutch, scoring 20 points, alongside five rebounds and four assists. 

"Naglagay ako ng pressure sa sarili ko. As one of the veterans here on the team, I know I need to step up," Alfaro stated.

James Payosing tallied 12 points while Cliff Jopia added 11 for Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda.

Letran dropped a 7-0 bomb at the start of the third quarter with Kurt Reyson and Kobe Monje spearheading the charge to cut the lead of San Beda to nine, 49-40.

Reyson and Monje both finished with 8 points across their names.

Game 3 will be held at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City this Thursday.

Follow him on Twitter: @rhey_piamonte