Wizards rout Pharex five

THE RUST FROM not playing for nearly a month was hardly a factor for the PC Gilmore Wizards as they moved on to the next round of the PBAD-League Foundation Cup playoffs with a resounding 92-77 win over the Pharex Bidang Generix yesterday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Wizards looked fresh and sharp in their first game back since beating Blackwater, 99-97, to closeout their classification round assignment on May 5. Carlo Lastimosa finished with 20 points to show the way for PC Gilmore and forward Mark Acosta shot four of five, including three for three from three-point range as the Wizards’ offense got off to hot start.

The Wizards built several 15-point leads in the first half and the Bidang Generix desperately struggled to catch up mainly because they shot poorly. Jam Cortez scored 17 points, Allan Mangahas added 15 and Acosta, a late acquisition, contributed 14 for PC Gilmore, which shot 58 percent (19 of 33) in the first half.

Mac Montilla and Eduardo Tecson each scored 12 points for Pharex. The Bidang Generix, who stunned Cobra Energy Drink in the first round, never really had the chance to pose a challenged as PC Gilmore dominated the game with excellent shooting, pressure defense and great team effort that produced 26 assists.

PC Gilmore sealed the outcome when Jett Vidal knocked two 3-pointers 17 seconds apart that gave the Wizards a huge 72-51 advantage entering the fourth. Correspondent Jonas Panerio