ANTIPOLO CITY — Basilan-Jumbo Plastic solidified its hold of the third seed in the South after a 103-85 rout against Rizal-Xentro Mall, Monday night in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season at Ynares Center here.
Allyn Bulanadi registered 25 points and five rebounds, as the Steel improved to 18-10, picking up their fourth consecutive victory.
Basilan opened the fourth period on an 18-4 burst — capped by Anthony Bringas’ layup — to put the game away, 88-71, with 5:21 left.
“Hindi ako happy sa laro namin kasi next game namin Pasay. They are fighting for position pa kaya mahirap kalaban ‘yun. We are eyeing top four for the homecourt advantage eh, so we need to win,” said Basilan coach Jerson Cabiltes.
Gab Dagangon added 17 markers, while Hesed Gabo tallied a double-double of 12 points and 11 assists. Bobby Balucanag also had 12 markers in just 15 minutes of game time.
Up by just a point, 38-37, Basilan unleashed a 15-4 quarter-closing burst to establish a double-digit spread at halftime, 53-41. But Rizal came back in the third period firing a blistering 24-11 blast to take the lead, 65-64, with 2:08 left.
On the other hand, Mark Benitez and Jordan Rios delivered 15 points apiece for the Golden Coolers. Jayvee Vidal got 13 markers, six assists, four rebounds against four errors.
Rizal slumped to its sixth-straight defeat and fell to 4-22, dead last in the tough Northern division.
The Scores:
Basilan-Jumbo Plastic 103 – Bulanadi 25, Dagangon 17, Gabo 12, Balucanag 12, Dumapig 8, Bringas 8, Uyloan 7, Vidal 4, Sorela 2, Manalang 2, Lunor 2, Hallare 2, Palencia 2, Trinidad 0.
Rizal-Xentro Mall 85 – Rios 15, Benitez 15, Vidal 13, Gregorio 9, Leynes 8, Raflores 5, Hoyohoy 5, Saliente 4, Regalado 3, Martin 3, Bautista 3, Lacastesantos 2, Bacay 0, Rosales 0, Acuña 0.
Quarterscores: 23-20, 53-41, 70-67, 103-85.
Story by Justin Valencia
Photo by Thel Suliva
