Liga Pilipinas: Fernandez leads Taguig Batang Global past Pampanga Buddies, 81-75

LIGA PILIPINAS

TAGUIG (July 6) – Point guard Boyet Fernandez fired 24 points, draining 5 of 6 three-point shots, to power the host Taguig Batang Global past the Pampanga Buddies, 81-75, Sunday in the final of the Liga Pilipinas Tour elimination phase at the C.P. Tinga gym here.

The Batang Global picked up 11 Tour points at the conclusion of Week 3, while the Buddies received seven points.

Zamboanga and Batangas will host Week 4 from July 9-13.

Taguig (6-4) outscored Pampanga (8-2) – led by the 16 points of Larry Rodriguez – 25-13 in the second quarter to stretch a 15-12 edge to 40-25 at the half.

Offsetting a 38 percent field goal shooting, the Batang Global dominated the boards, 52-38, with Ronnie Matias grabbing 11 and Erick Rodriguez collaring 10.

In the battle for third, Al Vergara posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 assists as the Lipa Barakos crushed the Quezon Red Oilers, 96-83.

Jeffrey Sanders added 13 points with seven rebounds for the Barakos, who picked up their second win in five games.

The Barakos shot 31 of 75 (41 percent) from the floor compared to the Red Oilers' 26 of 71 (37 percent).

Largely through the rebounding of Quezon's Kim Macanig (11) and Hafer Mondragon (10), Lipa surrendered a slight deficit under the boards. But the Barakos dominated the fast break with 22 points to the Red Oilers' 10 and picked up a 13-7 edge in turnover points.

The game had three deadlocks and six lead changes.

Scores:

LIPA 96 – Vergara 21, Sanders 14, Custodio 11, De Castro 10, David 9, Estrada 9, Junio 8, Neo 5, Habit 3, Moody 3, Lim 2, Alfad 1, Lustestica 0, Magcawas 0.

QUEZON 83 – Williams 19, Magsumbol 17, Mondragon 13, Macanig 12, Chua 9, Manabat 5, Panzo 3, Bolado 2, Garrido 0, Canizares 0, Mendoza 0, Casino 0, Dabel 0.

Quarters: 20-21; 50-45; 70-61; 96-83

2^nd Game

TAGUIG 81 – Bautista 27, Matias 14, Marquez 11, Rodriguez 9, Javier 6, Bombeo 6, Gatumbato 4, Ortiguerra 3, Reguera 1, Fajardo 0, Latoreno 0, Viandre 0, de Leon 0, Ramos 0.

PAMPANGA 75 – Rodriguez 16, Dillinger 12, Vizcarra 9, Bansil 8 , Oreta 7, Alcaraz 6, Nicdao 6, Mercado 6, Misa 5, Luanzon 0, Evangelista 0, Villamin 0,

Quarters: 15-12, 40-25, 55-47, 81-75