By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/ PNA
MANILA — Quezon City Capitals sealed a spot in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Datu Cup playoffs with a 75-68 win over Cebu City Sharks at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga on Thursday night.
The Capitals put up a third quarter blast to pull away from the Sharks, who failed to sustain a second quarter rally.
QC zoomed late in the first quarter, ending it on a 13-0 run to take a 21-14 lead.
Cebu City answered with a 19-8 second quarter to go ahead, 33-29, at halftime.
The Capitals then went on a 27-11 third quarter to pull away for good, never giving the Sharks a chance to bounce back in the final period.
Jay Collado made 24 points and 11 rebounds for QC, which moved up to solo sixth place at 12-12.
Mon Mabayo had a double-double of his own with 17 points and 12 rebounds alongside one assist and one steal off the bench.
John Tayongtong survived a knee injury scare in the second quarter and even finished the game.
Rhaffy Octobre had 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Edrian Lao added 21 points and 16 rebounds for Cebu City, which dropped to 11-14 at the close of their regular season campaign.
Already assured of a playoff spot prior to the game, the team is now waiting for the results of the remaining games of Bacoor City, Zamboanga, and Imus to determine where it will end up.
