Batangas staves off Pangasinan comeback

BATANGAS City thwarted Pangasinan’s latest attack to win 71-64 on Saturday and regain control of the sixth season of the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Pangasinan.

Led by Cedric Ablaza, Juneric Baloria and Levi Hernandez, the Rum Masters took a 64-50 lead in the fourth quarter for their 13th win after losing six in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.

However, the Heatwaves countered with a cluster of nine points and came closer to victory (59-64), but unfortunately Hernandez broke the spell and brought them back to 7-13.

Baloria finished with 16 points, including three triples, and five rebounds for Batangas, which bounced back from a 69-83 loss to San Juan on July 18.

Ablaza finished with 13 points, six rebounds, seven assists and three steals, followed by Jeckster Apinan with 10 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and Dawn Ochea with 10 points plus four rebounds.

Pangasinan got 11 points from Michael Mabulac and JP Maguilano and 10 points, all in the fourth quarter, from Ian Melencio.

Binan and Bataan defeat naval enemies

In other games, Binan Tatak defeated Gel Negros 91-72 and Bataan defeated Mindoro 103-96.

Kenny Roger Rocacurva scored 22 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, made two steals and added two assists to lead Binan to an 11-7 win.

Other Binan players who performed well were Jonathan Gray with 14 points, Pamboy Ramundo and Jeric James Pido with 11 each, Nino Canaleta with 10 points plus nine rebounds, and Marc Pingris with six points, nine assists, seven rebounds and two steals.

With a lead of as much as 20 points, 71-51, Binan relegated the Muscovados to 9-12, despite getting 12 points from John Rey Villanueva and Renz Palma, and 11 points from Buenaventura Raflores.

The Risers overcame a four-game deficit and improved their record to 5-14 thanks to Robbi Darang’s 24 points, nine assists, three rebounds and two steals.

He was assisted by Yves Sazon with 19 points, five assists and three rebounds; Rhaffy Octobre with 17 points plus six rebounds; Mitchelle Maynes with 13 points, 13 rebounds plus three assists; and Jeff Santos with 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

The Tamaraws suffered their third straight loss, going 5-11 despite John Jerrick Caspe’s 25 points, 13 assists, 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block.

The MPBL returns to the Filoil EcoOil Center in San Juan on Monday with a triple-bill that will see Rizal play Sarangani at 4 p.m., Pampanga take on Zamboanga at 6 p.m. and Davao take on San Juan at 8 p.m.

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