BIÑAN, LAGUNA — Pasig-Sta. Lucia snapped Biñan City-Luxxe White’s six-game winning streak with an 82-75 triumph in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Season at the Alonte Sports Arena here, Tuesday.
Josan Nimes unloaded 30 points on an 8-of-14 shooting clip along with 11 rebounds and three steals to lead Pasig to its second-straight victory en route to a 16-11, just half-a-game behind sixth-running Bataan.
“Nung halftime na-challenge ‘yung mga players to play defense, so ‘yun ‘yung naging result ng third quarter. Nagkaroon kami ng run, so pagdating nung fourth medyo nag-relax kaya humabol ‘yung Biñan,” said Pasig head coach Bong Dela Cruz.
Down by 12 points in the third quarter, 41-53, Nimes joined hands with Jeric Teng. They ignited a 23-5 blast to help the Realtors retake the lead and end the frame with a seven-point advantage, 65-58.
Pasig led by as much as 17 points in the fourth quarter, before Biñan’s Jed Mendoza sliced it to eight points, 80-72, with 40 ticks remaining. It was the closest the Krah Heroes could get, though. Nimes and Argel Mendoza later iced the game with four free throws.
Teng added 18 points, five assists, and four boards for the Sta.Lucia-backed squad, while Argel Mendoza and Leo Najorda had nine points apiece.
Jed Mendoza paced Biñan with 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Macky Acosta contributed 14 points and six rebounds, while James Mangahas had a double-double of 12 points and 11 boards in a losing cause.
The Luxxe White-backed team fell to 12-15 in the South Division, two games behind eight-seeded Bicol.
The Scores:
Pasig-Sta. Lucia (82) – Nimes 30, Teng 18, Najorda 9, Mendoza 9, Gotladera 6, Velchez 4, Manalang 2, Chavenia 2, Tamayo 2, Medina 0, Grealy 0
Biñan City-Luxxe White (75) – Mendoza 16, Acosta 14, J. Mangahas 12, Bautista 9, Villanueva 7, Parala 7, A. Mangahas 6, Neypes 2, Stevens 2, Castanares 0, Justiniani 0
Quarterscores: 24-20, 36-41, 65-58, 82-75
Story by Jonash Dannug
Photo by Thel Suliva
