Former San Beda stalwarts Justine Sanchez and Tony Ynot were triumphant in their Iloilo debuts, towing the United Royals to a thrilling 86-79 win over Oriental Mindoro in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season, Monday at the Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor.
CJ Catapusan poured 10 points and Ynot scored all of his eight points in the fourth quarter to power Iloilo past Mindoro, which led at 67-59 on a jumper by Sherwin Concepcion with 8 minutes and 46 seconds to go.
The Disiplinados were still ahead, 74-73, on two charities by Tey Teodoro, but the United Royals’ Renzo Navarro hit a triple and Tony Ynot added a jumper and another triple to negate a trey by Mindoro’s Marvel Jimenez and seize control, 81-77.
Agem Miranda scored on an alley-oop to push Mindoro closer 79-81 with 19 seconds left, but Iloilo’s Justine Sanchez came through with three free throws and Catapusan dunked to increase the margin.
With Ynot and Sanchez playing in the MPBL, they are no longer eligible to play in the UAAP if they decide to transfer to a member school.
Iloilo drew 17 points and 5 rebounds from Theo Flores, 14 points and 5 rebounds from Catapusan, and 13 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds from Navarro.
Mindoro, which slumped to 0-6, got 16 points from Teodoro and 15 points each from Concepcion and Jimenez.
Later in the night, San Juan clobbered Sarangani, 103-87, to open their campaign.
Drawing power from Egie Boy Mojica, AC Soberano and Adrian Nocum, the Knights led by as many as 29 points, 89-60, and cruised to their second straight victory under the mentorship of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in the 29-team tournament.
Mojica wound up with 19 points, including 10 in the third quarter, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks to earn best player honors. Soberano contributed 15 points, 12 in the first quarter, and 5 rebounds, while Nocum contributed 13 points and 6 rebounds.
Orlan Wamar also delivered with 11 points and so did Michael Calisaan with 9 points and 9 rebounds.
The Knights zoomed ahead, 83-56, on a triple by Mojica with 35 seconds left in the third quarter and sealed the outcome with a 100-73 spread following a triple by Soberano, only 3:10 to go.
Sarangani skidded to 2-3 even as Jeff Viernes fired 15 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter. The Marlins also got 14 points each from Jordan Sta. Ana, Reggz Gabat and Jeff Comia.
In the nightcap, Caloocan blitzed Bacoor at the start of the second overtime and proceeded to tally an 84-75 victory.
