It was supposed to be a close one, until it was not.
Goto Pilipinas overcome a sub-par start, and once they were able to turn on the jets, there was no turning back as they ran over SCMC-ARA, 98-63 to rule the 2nd Conference of the 2017 Next5Hoops Corporate – Recreational Division.
Jeff Magan was instrumental in the championship squad’s onslaught, scoring 33 points while also tallying nine rebounds and eight steals. He shot 13-of-20 from the floor including 4-of-8 from deep. He was named MVP of the tournament.
Juke Palanca led three bench players in double-digits with 12 markers, as Goto Pilipinas’ reserves outscored SCMC-ARA’s substitutes, 47-16.
SCMC-ARA got to the upperhand first, taking the opening quarter 26-18 but Goto Pilipinas quickly erased it by opening the second canto on a 14-0 blast before Andrew Felix finally broke the dry spell for SCMC-ARA.
Goto Pilipinas went on to outscore their foes, 20-3 in the second quarter to take a nine-point lead into the halftime break.
The winning side maintained the lead, and then poured it on in the fourth quarter where they exploded for 37 points. The team pressured SCMC-ARA to force turnovers and generate baskets. The fourth quarter ended with Goto Pilipinas limiting SCMC-ARA to only 17 points, with the 35-point margin at the end of the game being the highest lead.
Reggie Zafe and Francis Ortiguerra both added 10 markers for Goto Pilipinas. Goto Pilipinas had 10 three-point conversions, double the total of their opponents, 19 assists, and 20 steals.
Felix was the high-point man for the runners-up with 22 points although he turned the ball over a whopping nine times. Marvin Alcala was the only other guy to reach double-figures with 12 points.
