THE Quezon Huskers waxed hot in the second half to batter the Negros Muscovados, 94-66, on Monday and advance to the South Division semifinals in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City.
Living up to their top seeding in the South, the Huskers led by as far as 90-55 late in the fourth quarter to duplicate their easy 73-60 victory in Game One and cut short the best-of-three quarterfinal series.
The Huskers will play the winner between Paranaque and Zamboanga Master Sardines. Paranaque stunned Zamboanga, 83-79, in the opener and is seeking a repeat in Game Two which still playing at press time.
Held to a 27-27 count midway through the second quarter, Quezon took the break at 44-31.
RJ Minerva and Robin Rono presided over Quezon's onslaught in the second half, where Negros' guns fell silent.
The 6-foot-5 Minerva tallied 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in a 20-minute, 26-second stint, while Rono posted 15 points and 6 rebounds in just 15 minutes and 14 seconds to clinch the Faily Fantasy Best Player honors.
Al Francis Tamsi contributed 15 points and 5 rebounds while Mon Abundo added 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists for Quezon Coach Eric Gonzales.
Negros, the No. 8 South qualifier, got 20 points, 8 assists and 3 rebounds from Felipe Chavez and 11 points from John Rey Villanueva.
The gang-rebounding Huskers ruled the boards, 48-32, and translated that advantage to a 36-18 edge in points inside the paint.
The MPBL continues on Wednesday with the North Division quarterfinal playoffs pitting Pampanga against Abra at 6 p.m. and Pasay against Nueva Ecija at 8 p.m. at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
