Home team Taguig rode on a scorching start as it thrashed Manila-INGCO, 123-74, the most lopsided result in the tournament, to secure a playoff incentive in the Metro League Reinforced (Second) Conference Tuesday night at the Hagonoy Sports Complex in Taguig City.
Already assured of a playoff seat, the Generals uncorked an early 33-3 blast behind ex-pro guard Jonathan Uyloan and import Emmanuel Ojuola on their way to an easy win, improving to 6-2 win-loss record in the South Division.
The dominant win enabled the Generals to seal a twice-to-beat edge in the South Division semi-finals together with league-leader Bacoor (7-0).
Earlier, Valenzuela-San Marino banked on Nikki Monteclaro to demolish Solid San Juan 112-88 to gain solo third in the North Division of M-League backed by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and with Barangay 143 as league presentor.
Uyloan and Ojuola combined forces to give Taguig a commanding 30-point lead with only a little over six minutes into the game.
The Generals never looked back from then on and even led by as high as 50 points, 107-57, with 9:22 left in the fourth quarter.
Uyloan fired a game-high 24 points to go with six assists and two rebounds while Ojuola pumped in a 22-marker, 10-board double-double.
Carlo Lastimosa was the lone bright spot with 21 points for Manila, which slid to 3-4 in the North Division of M-League that is also bankrolled by Synergy 88, World Balance, Excellent Noodles and San Miguel Corporation.
In the opening game, Monteclaro exploded with 27 points anchored on seven triples in just 15 minutes of action to lift Valenzuela to an even 3-3 win-loss record and boost the team’s playoff chances in the M-League that has SMS Global Technologies, Inc. as official livestream and technology partner, Spalding as official ball, Team Rebel Sports as official outfitter, and PLDT as official internet service provider.
Monteclaro hit back-to-back treys to cap a 14-2 surge that gave Valenzuela a massive 34-19 advantage in the opening period.
The reigning all-Filipino champion squad of head coach Gerry Esplana went on to post its largest lead at 80-56 on Dan Anthony Natividad’s three-pointer midway through the third quarter.
Reneford Ruaya finished with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds, Jeric Diego scored 14 markers and Gianne Paulo Rivera added 11 points in the lopsided triumph by Valenzuela.
Raymund Miller’s 24 points and 18 rebounds along with Joshua Saret’s 15 points and Fidel Albert Castro’s 15 markers went for naught as Solid San Juan fell to 2-6 in the South Division of M-League which is also supported by Gerry’s Grill, Summit Water, Alcoplus, Nature’s Spring and Goodfellow.
The Scores:
First Game:
Valenzuela-San Marino 112 – Monteclaro 27, Ruaya 17, Diego 14, Rivera 11, Esplana 8, Natividad 7, Kalaw 6, Sta. Maria 6, Pascua 5, Dela Cruz 4, Tayongtong 4, Dulalia 3, Gamboa 0
Solid San Juan-PC Gilmore – Miller 24, Castro 15, Saret 15, Astrero 10, Dada 5, Jacunap 5, Matias 5, Abanes 4, Ejercito 4, Elarmo 1, Clarianes 0
Quarterscores: 34-19, 60-44, 83-67, 112-88
Second Game:
Taguig 123 – Uyloan 24, Ojuola 22, Mayo 14, Sampurna 10, Gilbero 9, Rublico 8, Lontoc 7, Monte 7, Orodio 7, Gozum 6, Oliveria 5, Guiyab 4, Alcantara 0, Caduada 0, Subrabas 0
Manila-INGCO 74 – Lastimosa 21, Laude 16, Camacho 10, Alban 8, Manalo 8, Celada 5, Acosta 2, Arafat 2, Matias 2, Acibar 0, Castro 0, Mendoza 0, Orquina 0, Yu 0
Quarterscores: 45-17, 83-45, 103-57, 123-74
