Enderun pulls off shocker, kicks UST off D-League playoffs

Also-ran Enderun pushes UST to a five-way tie that dropped the Tigers out of playoff contention due to an inferior quotient

JR Isaga

Published 6:59 PM, May 23, 2019

Updated 6:59 PM, May 23, 2019

GAME HERO. Brandon Chauca erupts for 31 points to power Enderun’s surprise stand against UST. Photo from PBA Images

MANILA, Philippines – Family Mart-Enderun pulled out all the stops and eliminated IronCon-UST from the 2019 PBA D-League playoffs with a massive 81-74 upset at JCSGO Cubao on Thursday, May 23.

With nothing to lose, Enderun blazed to a hot start and finished its debut season with a 2-7 slate. UST, which had a shot at the twice-to-beat playoff advantage had they won, dropped all the way to a five-way tie at 6-3 and out of the playoffs due an inferior quotient.

St. Clare-Virtual Reality seized the twice-to-beat with the 2nd seed while Go for Gold-CSB and Che’lu Bar and Grill take the latter two spots. Cignal-Ateneo, perched comfortably atop with an 8-1 card, completed the Aspirants Group playoff cast.

Brandon Chauca led Enderun’s last stand with 31 points while veteran big man Marvin Hayes flirted with a triple-double after posting 18 markers, 12 rebounds and 7 assists.

Enderun jolted UST with a 25-11 blitz in the opening quarter and extended that to 19 late in the 3rd frame.

Sherwin Concepcion got UST as near as 4 points, 68-72, midway through the payoff period off a long bomb, but Enderun responded with an 8-0 closeout run to put away the game for good.

Soulemane Chabi Yo paced UST with 25 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks in the sorry loss. Standout rookie Mark Nonoy continued his stellar play with 18 markers and 4 assists, but it wasn’t enough to fill in the absence of veteran guards Renzo Subido and Marvin Lee.

Meanwhile, ChaDao-FEU fared much better in the Foundation Group, dropping CEU, 74-69, to clinch the last playoff spot.

Despite the loss, CEU still clinched the 2nd seed and twice-to-beat advantage as the Scorpions finished with a 7-2 slate.

Sophomore guard L-Jay Gonzales led the balanced attack with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists as FEU finished with a 6-3 record. Wendell Comboy and Joseph Nunag added 13 and 12 markers, respectively, while Cade Flores chipped in 8 off the bench.

Judel Fuentes paced CEU with 24 points and 4 rebounds in the losing effort. Maodo Diouf churned out an 11-marker, 11-board double-double but also committed 7 turnovers in the process.

Finally, Valencia City-San Sebastian sealed the 1st seed in the Foundation Group with a 91-80 blowout over Dilman College-Gerry’s Grill.

As San Sebastian finished with an 8-1 record, Diliman College bowed out with a 4-5 slate.

JM Calma erupted for a 26-point, 10-rebound double-double in the win while streaky sniper RK Ilagan chipped in 23 markers, 6 boards and 6 assists.

Kevin Gandjeto led Diliman College with 29 points and 4 rebounds while Kristoffer Torrado saw his 14-marker, 14-assist game go to waste in the loss.

The Scores

First Game:

ChaDao-FEU 74 – Gonzales 15, Comboy 13, Nunag 12, Tchuente 9, Flores 8, Stockton 6, Bienes 5, Celzo 4, Tuffin 2, Mantua 0.

CEU 69 – Fuentes 24, Diouf 11, Rojas 10, Formento 6, Chan 6, Lisbo 5, Ke. Caballero 4, Uri 3, Sunga 0, Diaz 0, Abastillas 0, Santos 0, Intic 0.

Quarters: 13-20, 41-41, 60-56, 74-69.

Second Game:

Family Mart-Enderun 81 – Chauca 31, Hayes 18, Gotladera 6, Kouakou 6, Vidal 6, Dela Cruz 6, Nunez 3, Gatdula 3, Dungan 2, Escoto 0, Mariano 0, Sacundo 0, Veloso 0.

IronCon-UST 74 – Chabi Yo 25, Nonoy 18, Abando 9, Asuncio 6, Concepcion 6, Bataller 6, Paraiso 4, Ando 0, Marcos 0, Yongco 0.

Quarters: 25-11, 46-34, 70-56, 81-74.

Third Game:

Valencia-San Sebastian 91 – Calma 26, Ilagan 23, Bulanadi 18, Dela Cruz 6, Bonleon 5, Calahat 4, Altamirano 4, Sumoda 2, Are 2, Villapando 1, Loristo 0, Tero 0, Desoyo 0.

Diliman-Gerry’s Grill 80 – Gandjeto 29, Torrado 14, Pacheco 11, Mahari 10, Bauzon 5, Brutas 5, Brill 4, Sombero 2, Darang 0, Tay 0.

Quarters: 21-7, 37-28, 68-55, 91-80.

– Rappler.com