Paulo Hubalde and the Valenzuela Classic stole the thunder from Aaron Black’s Ateneo homecoming, eking out a 70-65 win over the Quezon City Capitals, Monday evening at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Figuring in a close game, Hubalde took charge in the final frame, scoring 13 of his 22 points in the last 10 minutes of the game.
Hubalde sparked an 8-0 spurt that gave the Classic a 63-54 lead with 4:08 left.
Clark Derige and John Tayongtong tried to rally QC back late but time was not on their side.
The son of former PBA MVP Freddie Hubalde tallied 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks to lead Valenzuela to a 2-1 record in the North Division of the 2019-20 MPBL Lakan Cup.
Hubalde’s fellow second generation cager Orin Catacutan added nine points and 10 rebounds.
Aaron Black, who tallied a triple-double in his second MPBL game and is a former Ateneo Blue Eagle, was held down to just six points to go along with seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals.
Mark Carongoy and Clark Derige paced the 1-2 Capitals with 13 and 12 markers, respectively.
Expansion team Iloilo United Royals leaned on Richard Escoto and a couple of CEU Scorpions to score another stunner, scoring an upset win over the Bataan Risers, 84-78.
Escoto had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Iloilo to its second straight win. Aaron Jeruta had 19 points as well to go along with six assists while Samboy de Leon added 16 points and seven boards.
With Iloilo trailing by one midway in the final frame, Escoto sparked an 11-0 run to leave Bataan in the dust.
Sean Manganti paced Bataan, who went down to 1-2, with 18 points and eight rebounds while Alfred Batino added 13 points and nine rebounds.
Bataan’s Ateneo boys of Anton Asistio, Vince Tolentino, and Jai Reyes combined for just three points, six rebounds, and seven assists.
The sole Atenean who went home happy was Navotas head coach Gabby Severino as he guided the UniPak Sardines-backed squad to a 78-69 win over Bacolod Master’s Sardines.
Allan Evangelista led Navotas’ balanced attack with 14 points and eight rebounds. Francis Munsayac had 13 points while Elmer Cabahug added 11 markers for the 1-1 Navotas.
Mac Tallo’s 18-point, five-assist, four-rebound, and four-steal outing went for naught as Bacolod went down to 1-2. Jopher Custodio 10-point, 12-rebound game also went for naught.
The Scores:
First Game:
Navotas 78 – Evangelista 14, Munsayac 13, Cabahug 11, Roy 10, Buenafe 9, Abdurasad 7, Melegrito 4, Meca 4, Penaflor 4, Mamaclay 2, Orquina 0, Soriano 0, Miraflores 0, Andaya 0.
Bacolod 69 – Tallo 18, Javelona 13, Custodio 10, Alano 8, Medalla 8, Santos 5, Porto 2, Dimas 2, Cauilan 2, Soriano 1, Colina 0, Ortega 0.
Quarterscores: 24-18, 35-41, 61-54, 78-69.
Second Game:
Iloilo 84 – Escoto 19, Jeruta 19, De Leon 16, Gumaru 6, Mahari 6, Tamsi 5, Parker 4, Javelosa 2, Publico 2, Arambulo 2, Rodriguez 2, Pedrosa 1, De Joya 0.
Bataan 78 – Manganti 18, Batino 13, Villarias 11, Jaime 11, Najorda 7, Castro 6, Villahermosa 4, Presbitero 3, Tolentino 3, Santillan 2, Asistio 0, Reyes 0.
Quarterscores: 19-19, 41-38, 58-57, 84-78.
Third Game:
Valenzuela 70 – Hubalde 22, Andaya 10, Catacutan 9, Gimpayan 8, Asuncion 8, Ruaya 6, Varilla 4, De Chavez 2, Cabrera 1, Kalaw 0, Ricafort 0, Esplana 0.
Quezon City 65 – Carongoy 13, Derige 12, Santos 10, Tayongtong 9, Black 6, Mabayo 5, Gonzaga 4, Caranguian 3, Barua 2, Gadon 1, Sison 0, Medina 0, Castro 0.
Quarterscores: 15-10, 27-32, 48-46, 70-65.
