From 20 teams, the playoffs of the 2017 Next5Hoops Metro Manila South Leg Qualifier Recreational Plus Division has been narrowed down to just 12 after a week of exciting games.
The first round of the playoffs involves five teams from each of the four pools. The top seeds get a first-round bye, with the fourth and fifth-ranked teams battling to face the top squad while the second and third-placed teams slugging it out.
Pool 4 had the most exciting opening games as both lower-seeded teams pulled off victories.
No. 5 PDF eliminated No. 4 Ballaholics, 92-82 as Pipoy Hempisao exploded for 38 points on eight triples. It was the highest scoring output by any player during the first round. He also had five blocks while shooting 14-of-23 from the field overall. Marwin Montejo added 29 points.
No. 3 Cake Imagination took down No. 2 Pound Bicutan, 86-80, in overtime.
Miguel Malabag had 18 points including a three in extension which gave his team a 79-78 lead. Ryan Feliciano knocked down another long range shot to make it 84-80.
Mark Capricho and Jerome Ferolino both added 17 markers for Cake Imagination. Donnie Ison had 21 points and 15 boards for Pound Bicutan.
In Pool 1, No. 4 Pound Dasma dominated No. 5 Swish, 94-61. Christian Felix led four double-digit scorers with 16 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
Pound Dasma used a 32-15 third quarter to put the game away.
No. 2 Tune Squad, meanwhile, had an easier time as No. 3 JRM forfeited their game due to non-payment.
In Pool 2, No. 4 Fidelis ran over No. 5 Don Bosco, 82-57. Fidelis led from start to finish, with Ronnel Moreno’s 20 points and seven dimes leading the way. John Bernales and Michael Fernandez chipped in 18 and 16 points, respectively.
No. 2 Sentinels survived No. 3 Blood Label, 83-80. Abiel Herrera had a double-double of 28 points and 11 boards to lead his side. Kenneth Punzalan added 15 markers. Manuel Lopez paced Blood Label with 19 markers and 15 boards.
Lastly, in Pool 3, Narjan Tendenilla and Harold Acbay both registered double-doubles in No. 2 Warfit Warriors’ 74-69 win over No. 3 Tres Marias.
Tendenilla had 26 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks while Harold Acbay had 11 markers and 22 boards.
No. 4 U5S Sunseekers eliminated No. 5 D-Thugz, 84-69. Sherwin Dino had 19 points off the bench as the Sunseekers pulled away using a 26-15 second period.
The playoffs will resume on October 1 with the 4-5 winners battling the top seeds. PDF plays 3W Shogun, U5S Sunseekers face 3W Builders, Pound Dasma challenges Flight, and Fidelis engages in a match-up against E.T. Homes.
