Quezon City demolished Marikina, 110-73, while Valenzuela outplayed Parañaque, 105-96, to keep a share of the lead in the Metro League basketball championship last Thursday at the Valenzuela Astrodome
The Junior Capitals drew a big game from Cyrus Tabi, who shot the lights out with 29 points on a near-perfect 12-of-13 shooting for 92 percent.
Tabi, whose only miss was a three-point shot, added seven rebounds and seven assists for Quezon City, who remained one of only two unbeaten teams in the tournament organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and supported by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Meanwhile, two crucial encounters mark this Saturday’s quadruple header at the Parañaque Sports Hall, with the Juniors Capitals taking on the streaking Caloocan, and the Workhorses also looking to stay unbeaten against South leader Pateros.
Sandy Senal added 14 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Jesus Manuel Asuncion contributed 14 points and five rebounds for Quezon City, who improved to 3-0 after surviving 10 technical fouls at the start of the second period for the same number of players it fielded in the first quarter using the wrong color of shorts.
Francis Munsayac led Marikina’s losing effort with 25 points, 10 from the 10 QC technicals, and added five rebounds and four assists, while Irvin Mendoza contributed 16 points and four rebounds.
Dan Anthony Natividad led five players in double figures with 24 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in Valenzuela’s win over Parañaque that also improved the Workhorses’ slate to 3-0 in this 10-team tournament which also has Synergy 88, San Miguel Corp., World Balance, Frabelle Foods, Summit Mineral Water, Alco Plus, Gerry’s Grill, Excellent Noodles, glitter.ph, SM Supermalls and Nature’s Spring as major sponsors
Erwin Sta.Maria had 21 points, John Tayongtong, and Josiah Jerold Esplana had 14 points each. Allan Martin had 10 points for the Workhorses, who started the game with a 14-0 run and controlled the tempo from start to finish from thereon.
They led 51-36 in the second quarter.
Gwyne Capacio had 28 points and 11 rebounds, and Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. had 24 points and a tournament-best 23 rebounds for the Green Berets, the first 20-20 game of the
Earlier, Taguig used an 18-0 start to demolish Las Piñas, 115-68, behind Richard Albo’s 26 points, including 17 in first quarter.
Paulo Miguel Cambaya had 17 points while Romeo Almerol added 12 points for Taguig of head coach Bing Victoria whose team kept the Home Defenders winless in four games.
Kervin Lucente led Las Piñas with a double-double of 21 points and 19 rebounds.
Only the top four teams from each group will advance to the division semifinals after the eliminations where teams play each other once including those in the other division.
The Scores:
First Game
Taguig 115 – Albo 26, Cambaya 17, Almerol 12, Lontoc 9, Ajero 8, Tiburcio 8, Lumungsod 8, Ferriols 7, Oliveria 6, Dela Virgen 5, Tonggal 4, Monte 3, Alcantara 2
Las Piñas 68 – Lucente 21, Puno 10, Dickens 9, Santos 9, Uduba 7, Gragasin 5, Icawat 5, Buena 2
Quarterscores: 35-8, 68-21, 87-44,115-68
Second Game
Quezon City 110 – Tabi 29, Senal 14, Asuncion 14, Mahari 10, Gomez De Liano 9, Macaballug 9, Estoce jr. 8, Udjan 6, Riva 5, Melegrito 2, Nava 2, Saquillo 2
Marikina 73 – Munsayac 25, Mendoza 16, Zapanta 12, Bautista 8, Robrigado 8, Castillo 4, Anderson 0, Catipay 0, Luciano 0, Gervacio 0
Quarterscores: 29-15, 57-34, 87-50, 110-73
Third Game
Valenzuela 105 – Natividad 24, Sta.Maria 21, Tayongtong 14, Esplana 14, Martin 10, Pascua 7, Luz 6, Vianjohn 4, Kalaw 3, Gamboa 2, Rivera 0
Parañaque 96 – Capacio 28, Rodriguez jr. 24, Indoy 17, Custodio 7, Dalaten 7, Villareal 6, Geronaga 4, Partosa 3, Baguio 0, Elorde 0, Encela 0
Quarterscores: 28-18, 51-36, 79-64, 105-96.
