The Marinerong Pilipino Skippers got back on the winning track as they outlasted the University of Cebu (UC)-M. Lhuillier, 79-71, in the Cebu City Sinulog Cup Basketball Invitational Thursday night at the Cebu Coliseum.
Gab Banal and Joseph Terson accounted for 16 of the Skippers’ last 18 points to carry the team to its second win in three games and into a tie for second place in the standings, behind the unbeaten Cebu Landmasters-Bogo City, which boasts of a clean 3-0 win-loss record.
Philip Paredes led the Skippers with 14, Abu Tratter had 11 while Mike Ayonayon put up 10.
In the opening game, the University of San Jose-Recoletos-May Abohan kept its hopes for a finals spot alive with an 86-80 win over the reigning Cesafi champions University of the Visayas (UV)-SG-ARQ Builders.
The win also was USJ-R’s second in three games, thanks to the near flawless performance of the high-flying Miguel Gastador.
The hero of their first win of the tournament, Gastador showcased his A-game with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting. He added seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.