Gab Banal and Bacoor spoiled the home debut of the revamped Pasig team as the Strikers hammered the Realtors late to take a 73-64 win, Wednesday evening.
Banal, the reigning MPBL MVP, knocked down back-to-back triples in the final two minutes of the game.
Banal tallied 17 points spiked by four triples to go along with six rebounds and four assists to lead the Strikers to a 3-1 slate in the 2019-20 MPBL Lakan Cup.
Ian Melencio added 12 markers while helping limit Jeric Teng to a horrid 3-for-16 shooting clip for 10 points. Teng added 15 rebounds, five assists, and two steals to his tally.
Robbie Manalang stepped up for Pasig with 16 points.
Earlier in the day, the Bicol Volcanoes and the Binan City Heroes scored huge wins.
Allan Mangahas scored the game-winner with 2.3 seconds left to lift Binan City to an 83-81 win over the Cebu City Sharks.
Mangahas had 22 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists in the 45-minute game while Macky Acosta and Kyle Neypes chipped in 13 and 12 markers each.
Patrick Cabahug paced Cebu with 20 points while William McAloney anchored Cebu’s defense with 17 points and 19 rebounds.
Both squads are now even with 2-2 slates in the South Division.
Ronjay Buenafe, on the other hand, led the Bicol Volcanoes’ 86-67 rout of the hapless Marikina Shoemasters.
Buenafe erupted for 20 points, six assists, and three steals to even Bicol’s record.
Former EAC General Jerome Garcia played his best game so far as well, scoring 21 points. Chris Lalata tallied a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Marikina, who fell to a 0-4 slate, was led by JJ Espanola’s 18 markers.
The Scores:
First Game:
Binan 83 – Mangahas A. 22, Acosta 13, Neypes 12, Adolfo 8, Adorio 6, Pontejos 6, Orera 5, Mangahas J. 3, Stevens 3, Bautista 3, Parala 2, Castanares 0, Rivera 0, Anonuevo 0.
Cebu 81 – Cabahug 20, Octobre 18, McAloney 17, Cenita 9, Nunez 7, Villafranca 4, Villaver 3, Lao 2, Yu 1, Viloria 0, Cortes 0, Poligrates 0, Ubalde 0, Rodriguez 0.
Quarterscores: 14-10, 34-23, 57-51, 73-73, 83-81.
Second Game:
Bicol 86 – Garcia 21, Buenafe 20, Lalata 12, Gusi 9, Alday 7, Mondragon 5, Ongteco 5, Milagrosa 5, Sabayo 2, Aldave 0, Anglim 0, Nueva 0, Nuyles 0.
Marikina 67 – Espanola 18, Sazon 15, Gonzales 8, Calaguio 8, Pascual 6, Rebugio 6, Salvador 2, Tambeling 2, Padua 2, Tilos 0, Dysam 0, Dela Pena 0, Caldozo 0.
Quarterscores: 23-14, 39-34, 61-42, 86-67.
Third Game:
Bacoor 73 – Banal 17, Melencio 12, Mabulac 8, Montuano 8, Sumalinog 8, Canete 7, Ramirez 6, Aquino 4, Acidre 2, Destacamento 1, Acuna 0, Ochea 0.
Pasig 64 – Manalang 16, Teng 10, Nimes 9, Adriano 9, Serrano 6, Tamayo 6, Belasco 4, Canon 2, Ballon 2, Velchez 0, Mendoza 0, Grealy 0, Marata 0.
Quarterscores: 18-16, 34-26, 56-48, 73-64.
