SEMIFINAL-bound PBA Stalwarts completed a sweep of its assignments by routing Rain or Shine, 57-44, at the end of the 2024 Batang PBA-Centrum Kids 11-under elimination round on Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Martheus Oriel scored 10 points while Ivan Ace De Leon and Neil Jared Pose had eight and seven points, respectively, as the Stalwarts won all their four games in Group A.
The Stalwarts, who also toppled Meralco, NorthPort and NLEX, will face the PBA Greats (Group B second placer) in the knockout semis on Friday.
Group B topnotcher TNT, which also completed a sweep, takes on Group A No. 2 seed NLEX in the other pairing.
In the other games Wednesday, Northport escaped Meralco, 52-47, for a graceful exit.
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Juan Matteo Puno and Joachim Almeda fired nine and eight points, respectively, while Antonio Aceveda and Robin Carl Marquez had six each for the Batang Pier, who closed the tourney at 1-3 record in Group A.
Meralco also finished with the same record en route to elimination.
Meanwhile, Converge handed Ginebra its first defeat in the lone 9-under tourney, 47-42.
Drake Nonato topbilled with 20 points for Converge that snatched the lead at 2-0 while Ginebra slid to 2-1. Other teams in the younger division are Magnolia (1-1) and Blackwate (0-2).
Cameron Richard Wilson rifled in 20 points as Phoenix carved out a 72-65 win over Terrafirma.
Prince Torio, Massey David and Jon Rafael Sannti Villarosa added 14, 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Batang Fuel Masters, who wrapped up their campaign at third place in Group B with a 2-2 slate.
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Terrafirma finished at 1-3 despite the 23 points and 14 points of Kenan Picazo and Liam Kyrie Batac, respectively.(JBU)
The Scores:
First Game (11-UNDER)
NorthPort 52 -- Puno 9, Almeda 8, Aceveda 6, Marquez 6, Gasta 5, Maneja 4, Parian 4, Bondoc 2, Ramirez 2, Rodriguez 2, Franco 2, Tulfo 0, Molato 0.
Meralco 47 -- Trillo 17, Evangelista 9, Samson M. 6, Tolentino 6, Catubay 2, Del Monico 2, Diaz 2, Co 2, Denina 1, Mangahas 0, Peniza 0, Salinas 0, Azurin 0, Galimba 0, Samson R. 0.
Quarterscores: 12-4, 26-17, 34-34, 52-47
Second Game (11-UNDER)
PBA Stalwarts 57 --Oriel 10, De Leon 8, Pose 7, Castro 6, Arriola 6, Sanchez 5, Cruz 5, Ochoa 4, Estabillo 2, Ilaga 2, Toscano 2, Viray 0, Lemos 0, Roa 0, Acta 0.
Rain or Shine 44 -- Sandico 10, Lacaya 9, Sy 9, Soliman 6, Mendiola 4, Hallare 3, Melencio 2, Villanueva 1, Lozano 0, Alviar 0, Navora 0, Butra 0.
Quarterscores: 11-10, 28-18, 45-28, 57-44.
Third Game (9-UNDER)
Converge 47 -- Nonato 20, Dulay 7, Vicente 6, Castaneda 6, Pascua 4, Llanera 2, Saplala 2, Ferrer 0, Olmos 0, Bernardo 0, De Guzman 0, Yangco 0.
Ginebra 42 -- Mesina 10, Centeno 8, Calazan 6, Fernandez 4, Rosuello 3, Lazaro 3, Aguilar RM. 2, Aguilar RV. 0, Dapatnapo 2, Gruta 2, Topacio 0, Rubio 0, Navarro 0.
Quarterscores: 10-8, 4-16, 29-30, 47-42.
Fourth Game (11-UNDER)
Phoenix 72 -- Wilson 20, Torio P. 14, David 11, Villarosa 10, Cabial 4, Henoguin 3, Pascua 3, De Guzman 3, Catabian 2, Laygo 2, Torio L. 0, Celis 0, Mayoyo 0, Lebron 0, Santos 0, Gracilla 0.
Terrafirma 65 -- Picazo 23, Batac 14, Del Mundo 9, Lanot 9, Topacio 6, Cuevillas 4, Floirendo 0, Lipana 0, Luz 0, Arano 0, Guevarra 0, Ranera 0, Sto. Tomas 0, Almiron 0, Balios 0, Ting 0.
Quarterscores: 17-14, 31-33, 50-43, 72-65.
