MARINERONG Pilipino wasted no time in eliminating Centro Escolar University, 75-66, to secure the first semifinals berth in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

In his second game back after a brief pro stint, Jollo Go shone with 17 points as the fourth-ranked Skippers posted a wire-to-wire victory.

“Si Jollo naman, kilala ko since high school pa. And alam naman natin yung batang ito, ibinibigay lagi yung best effort niya kahit saang liga,” said coach Yong Garcia of Go, who suited up for Blackwater.

“Masaya kami kasi nag-perform siya dito sa team. Kahit nakapunta siya sa PBA, yung chance niya na makabalik at tumulong sa team, nandoon pa rin kaya we are so proud kay Jollo and very thankful ako sa kanya,” he added.

Marinerong Pilipino will take on top-ranked Apex Fuel-San Sebastian in the best-of-three semifinals.

Later, sixth-ranked Builders Warehouse-UST forced a sudden-death duel with No. 3 Adalem Construction-St. Clare for the remaining semis berth with a 98-93 victory.

The winner-take-all match is set at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Big Dome, with the survivor taking on No.2 EcoOil-La Salle in the other semifinal.

Juan Gomez de Liaño, back after one-game absence, also scored 17 points to go with eight assists and seven rebounds, Arvin Gamboa had 13 points, eight boards, three assists and two steals, while Rence Nocum produced a double-double outing of 12 points and 10 rebounds, and dished out six assists for the Skippers.

Jhomel Ancheta led the No. 5 Scorpions with 12 points, Leonard Santiago also registered a double-double with 11 points and 11 boards to go with four steals while Karl Peñano and Jerome Santos each scored 10 points.

Marinerong Pilipino, which never trailed, raced to a 19-4 advantage and was able to withstood repeated CEU comebacks along the way.

Kean Baclaan dropped 16 of his 35 points in the pivotal third quarter as the Growling Tigers overcame a slow start to frustrate the Saints’ bid to march to the semifinals.

Written off after a 0-4 start, Builders Warehouse-UST now found itself on the cusp of making it to the semis.

“Praise God, nagkakaunawaan na ang mga bata. Maganda na ang samahan namin. We embraced yung system namin. I will give all the praises sa mga bata talaga. Ayaw nilang matalo,” said interim coach Albert Alocillo.

Nic Cabañero contributed 25 points while Sherwin Concepcion played big for the Growling Tigers with 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Joshua Fontanilla had 23 points and five assists before fouling out midway in the payoff period while Johnsherick Estrada added 15 points, seven boards and two assists for the Saints.

The scores:

First game

Marinero (75) — Gomez de Liaño 17, Go 17, Gamboa 13, Nocum 12, Bonifacio 6, Soberano 3, Hernandez 3, Pido 2, Cariño 2, Manlangit 0.
CEU (66) — Ancheta 12, Santiago 11, Santos 10, Peñano 10, Diaz 9, Balogun 6, Tolentino 4, Ferrer 2, Borromeo 2, Bernabe 0, Cabotaje 0, Malicana 0.
Quarterscores: 19-11, 37-29, 48-41, 75-66

Second game

Builders-UST (98) — Baclaan 35, Cabañero 25, Concepcion 18, Manalang 12, Mantua 4, Stevens 2, Santos 1, M. Pangilinan 1, Wilson 0.
Adalem-St. Clare (93) — Fontanilla 23, Estrada 15, Sumagaysay 14, Rojas 13, Lopez 10, Estacio 8, Gamboa 5, Ndong 4, Manacho 1, Sablan 0.
Quarterscores: 12-25, 39-43, 72-70, 98-93

Game Wednesday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
11 a.m. – Adalem St. Clare vs Builders-UST