The resurgent Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors clobbered the Soccsksargen Marlins, 89-77, on Friday in the 2019-20 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Cup at Pasig Sports Complex.
Powered by Jeric Teng, Josan Nimes, Jeric Serrano, and Robbie Manalang, the Realtors zoomed ahead, 81-59, before cruising to their fourth straight win and a 5-2 record.
Teng fired 25 points on top of eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals; Nimes tallied 19 points and six rebounds; Serrano 11 points and 12 rebounds; and Manalang 15 points for Bong de la Cruz’s charges.
The Marlins dropped their sixth straight game despite the 24-point, 11-rebound effort of Raniel Jae Diwa.
Earlier, the short-handed Mindoro Tamaraws rallied from 14 points to stun the Bicol Volcanoes, 74-70.
Sans former pro Mac Baracael and head coach Justin Tan, the Tamaraws leaned on Joseph Brutas and Nicol Bolos in the homestretch to notch their third win against four losses.
Brutas, who wound up with 14 points, nailed a triple from the corner to shove the Tamaraws ahead, 71-70, with 58 seconds left while Bolus canned three of four free throws in the last 12 seconds for the final count.
Homegrown Rodel Vaygan chipped in 13 points while Sandy Cenal contributed 10 points for the Tamaraws.
The Volcanoes stormed ahead, 30-24, and were still ahead, 70-68, with 1 minute and 7 seconds to go, before the Tamaraws’ final salvo.
Ronjay Buenafe could have saved the Volcanoes, but muffed two free throws in the last 18 seconds then missed a potential game-winning three, pulling them down to 5-4.
Baracael, the Tamaraws’ go-to-guy was put on the inactive list for unknown reasons, while Tan attended the wedding of close friend Jio Jalalon of the Magnolia Hotshots, designating Bengie Teodoro and MC Abolucion to call the shots.
In the opener, Basilan Steel foiled Iloilo United Royals, 78-74, to rise to 5-3 and pull down its victim to 4-4.
Irven Palencia led the Jumbo Plastics-backed Steel with 15 points followed by Daren Lunor with 13 and Bobby Balucanag with 12.
Saturday’s games supposed to be held at Navotas Sports Complex were canceled due to inclement weather.
The Scores:
First Game:
Basilan 78 – Palencia 15, Lunor 13, Balucanag 12, Bautista 9, Gabo 8, Bringas 8, Collado 4, Dumapig 4, Hallare 3, Vidal 1, Alanes 1, Solera 0.
Iloilo 74 – De Leon 16, Publico 11, Tamsi 11, Escoto 10, De Joya 8, Gumaru 7, Mahari 6, Javelosa 4, Rodriguez 1, Jeruta 0, Arambulo 0.
Quarterscores: 18-15, 33-36, 52-58, 78-74.
Second Game:
Mindoro 74 – Brutas 14, Vaygan 13, Cenal 10, Cinco 9, Mandreza 8, Abanes 5, Bolos 5, Bangeles 4, Galinato 3, Saret 3, Matias 0.
Bicol 70 – Buenafe 15, Lalata 13, Mondragon 7, Sabago 6, Alday 6, Garcia 5, Guerrero 3, Gusi 3, Lao 3, Nueva 2, Rodriguez 2, Alfonso 0, Milagrosa 0.
Quarterscores: 12-16, 20-34, 46-48, 74-70.
Third Game:
Pasig 89 – Teng 25, Nimes 19, Manalang 15, Serrano 11, Mendoza 5, Ballon 4, Adriano 4, Bartolome 3, Velchez 2, Bautista 1, Grealy 0, Canon 0, Chavenia 0.
SOCCSKSARGEN 77 – Diwa 24, Rabe 13, Juanico 11, Estrellante 9, Biteng 6, Regalado 5, Magbanua 4, Gonzales 2, Santos 1, Bernabe 1, Nocos 1, Espinosa 0, Eman 0.
Quarterscores: 18-9, 41-20, 59-48, 89-77.
