Goto Pilipinas emerged victorious in a titanic showdown between the top two 2017 Next5Hoops Corporate squads, edging SCMC-ARA, 87-85 to headline four winners in the past weekend’s action.
Goto Pilipinas led by 18 in the first half but had to weather a huge storm from the determined SCMC-ARA side before prevailing. Goto Pilipinas is now the only undefeated team in the tournament.
Edison Afloro was the high-man for Goto Pilipinas with 19 points. Jeff Magan added 18 points while Reggie Zafe came off the bench for 12 points. Both Magan and Zafe hauled down nine rebounds apiece.
SCMC-ARA erased a 12-point fourth quarter deficit and pulled within two, 85-83 after a split from the line but Afloro answered with a big jumper to make it a two-possession lead with 1:11 left.
Andrew Felix knocked down a basket to cut it back to just two; after a miss from Goto Pilipinas, Felix had a chance to send the game to extension but his attempt went off the mark.
Felix led SCMC-ARA with 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting and eight rebounds.
In other results, Solar Entertainment, CityState Savings Bank, and Union Bank all defeated their respective opponents.
Solar leaned on a good start which saw them lead by 15 at the half to repulse Accenture, 67-59. Four starters scored in double-digits led by Gayagaya’s 16 points and seven boards.
Solar survived a 37-point explosion from Accenture’s Shappit in the win.
CityState did the same to Safeway, going on a 22-14 first quarter to assert control. The winning side never looked back, padding the lead in each of the next three periods to win, 74-57.
Joseph Gonzales (19 points, 17 rebounds) and Michael Soliven (19 points, 16 rebounds) both registered double-doubles for CityState.
Lastly, UnionBank prevailed over First Data Corp, 69-55 in a game where Union Bank only had five available players while their opponents had six.
Gozos had 23 points for Union Bank; Patrick Felizardo added a 20-point, 20-rebound effort. Macatangay had 18 points and 12 boards for First DataCorp.
