In their third home game of the season, the Manila-Frontrow Stars showed that they are starting to pick up steam, romping the long-idle Batangas City-Tanduay Athletics, 73-50, Tuesday evening at San Andres Gym.
Chris Bitoon and Aris Dionisio, Manila’s 1-2 punch, led a balanced attack by the Stars, who posted their fourth win in five games and won two in a row at home.
Bitoon knocked in 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds while outplaying his counterpart, Jeff Viernes, who struggled for 12 on 4-of-12 shooting from the field.
“Parang may takip yung ring namin,” said Viernes.
“Nakuha namin yung panalo dahil sa depensa namin,” said Bitoon, on the other hand.
Manila led by as much as 27 points in the contest.
Dionisio, on the other hand, anchored the Stars’ defense, tallying 12 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.
This is just Batangas’ second game in the 2019 MPBL Lakan Cup after debuting last June 15.
On the other hand, the General City Warriors gave their newly-minted head coach Rich Alvarez a debut to remember, blasting the Binan City Heroes, 100-76.
Alvarez took over from Ramon Pido, who stepped aside as lead assistant of the squad.
Robby Celiz and Mikey Williams, who will miss a couple of games for Gen San due to Mighty Sports duties, led the attack for Gen San, finishing with 16 and 15 markers respectively.
Already holding an imposing lead heading into the final frame, seldom-used guard Al Carlos made the most of his playing time, firing all 11 of his points in the final frame as Gen San’s lead swelled up to as high as 27 points.
Delmar Mahaling had 11 points and 14 rebounds as well for the 3-2 Warriors while Pamboy Raymundo scattered 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
James Mangahas and Macky Acosta were still able to put up their numbers despite the lopsided result for the 2-3 Heroes. Mangahas had 18 points and eight boards while Acosta added 16 markers.
In the opening game, the Basilan Steel continued the woes of the hapless Marikina Shoemasters, eking out an 86-83 win.
The Shoemasters, who fell to 0-5, were able to keep close with the Steel in the final frame as a basket by Von Tambeling with 2:42 left gave Marikina a one-point lead with 2:42 remaining.
Gab Dagangon though stopped the bleeding with a huge triple while big baskets by Chris Dumapig and Jhaps Bautista held off Marikina.
Basilan, who rose to 3-1, were led by Dagangon’s 18-point, eight-rebound, four-assist, and three-steal outing. Dumapig had a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds while Leo Gabo glued things together with 11 dimes.
Tambeling paced Marikina with 18 markers while Yves Sazon and Daryl Pascual scored 17 and 15 markers respectively with Pascual gobbling 17 boards as well.
The Scores:
First Game:
Basilan 86 – Dagangon 18, Balucanag 18, Bringas 15, Dumapig 13, Bautista 6, Hallare 5, Ng 4, Murillo 3, Lunor 2, Palencia 2, Gabo 0, Julkipli 0.
Marikina 83 – Tambeling 18, Sazon 17, Pascual 15, Gonzales 10, Rebugio 6, Salvador 4, Dela Pena 4, Espanola 3, Dysam 2, Tilos 2, Caldozo 0, Gines 0, Padua 0.
Quarterscores: 21-23, 42-42, 71-64, 86-83.
Second Game:
General Santos 100 – Celiz 16, Williams 15, Raymundo 14, Mahaling 11, Carlos 11, Orbeta 8, Basco 6, Landicho 5, Bautista 4, Goloran 4, Baltazar 2, Masaglang 2, De Guzman 2, Vijandre 0.
Binan City 76 – Mangahas J. 18, Acosta 16, Parala 11, Neypes 8, Pontejos 7, Castanares 5, Mangahas A. 4, Orera 2, Bautista 2, Rivera 1, Adorio 1, Boyles 0, Anonuevo 0, Ravanes 0.
Quarterscores: 23-12, 49-27, 68-58, 100-76.
Third Game:
Manila 73 – Bitoon 20, Dionisio 12, Matias 9, Abrigo 8, Lee 6, Lastimosa 6, Fortuna 6, Lopez 3, Hayes 2, Lopez 1, Dyke 0, Laude 0, Arellano 0, Bringas 0, Go 0.
Batangas City 50 – Viernes 12, Eguilos 10, Melano 10, Rivero 4, Tolentino 3, Grimaldo 3, Olayon 2, Santos 2, Acuna 2, Rogado 2, Bragais 0.
Quarterscores: 18-16, 36-29, 58-43, 73-50.
