Home team San Juan, Caloocan, and Bacoor dominated their respective opponents to kick off their campaigns with a bang in the 2019 Metro League Reinforced (2nd) Conference opener Sunday afternoon at the San Juan Gym.
Playing in their ever first M-League game, the neophyte Bacoor Strike sa Serbisyo quickly showed its wares by clobbering Pasigueño , 81-58.
FEU standout Prince Orizu tallied 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go along eight rebounds in just 20 minutes of action to lead the way for the Strikers who rode on a blistering 22-10 third-quarter blast to turn a 33-41 halftime deficit into a 55-51 upper hand entering the final canto.
With Mark Doligon and Mark Montuano also contributing 14 and 12 points, respectively, Bacoor never looked back as it even led by as many as 23 points en route to a rousing debut win in the 10-team M-League that is backed by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) with Barangay 143 as league presentor.
Meanwhile, import Eugene Toba Okwuchukwu tallied a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds while former San Bed Red Lion Ryusei Koga had 12 points in a losing cause for the Pasigueños who failed to sustain their strong start after leading by 10 points early in the first half.
In the second game, Caloocan Supremos-Gerry’s Grill shocked the star-studded Manila-INGCO Stars, 120-102 behind a balanced attack from PBA D-League standouts.
Johnnel Rey Bauzon hauled a double-double of 24 points and 14 rebounds while McArthur Enriquez, Kristoffer Torrado, and Joseph Brutas chipped in 23, 22, and 21 points, respectively to lift Caloocan into a massive upset over Manila which paraded former PBA cagers Carlo Lastimosa and Ronnie Matias.
The Supremos leaped to a 37-24 first quarter lead and never lost steam since then on their way to a dominating first win in the import-laden conference of the M-League that has Synergy 88, World Balance, Excellent Noodles and San Miguel Corporation as major sponsors.
On the other hand, Lastimosa had his game-high 32 points, four rebounds and two steals wasted in the lopsided Manila defeat.
Host team San Juan also protected its homecourt advantage successfully after thumping visiting Pateros-Metro Asia, 102-71, in the last game of the M-League opening tripleheader.
Joshua Ben Saret sizzled for the Knights with 20 points, four rebounds, and six assists while import Raymond Miller Jr. also added 19 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks.
Reiner Quinga, meanwhile, and Alexander Asis tallied 23 and 16 points, respectively, for Pateros.
The Scores:
First Game
Bacoor 81 – Orizu 14, Doligon 14, Montuano 12, Descamento 9, Ramirez 8, Acuna 6, Jamon 6, Mabulac 6, Malabag 5, Ochea 1, Miranda 0, Aquino 0, Maligon 0, Pradas 0, Galicia 0.
Pasigueno 58 – Okwuchukwu 21, Koga 12, Gaco 8, Caranguian 7, Sorela 6, Gatchalian 2, Rodriguez 2, Medina 0, Gallano 0, Jacinto 0.
Quarterscores: 22-16, 33-41, 55-51, 81-58.
Second Game
Caloocan-Gerry’s Grill 120 – Bauzon 24, Enriquez 23, Torrado 22, Brutas 21, Sombero 13, Darang 10, Niang 5, Tamayo 2, Tay 0, Fajardo 0, Sy 0, Tan 0.
Manila 102 – Lastimosa 32, Alban 16, Collado 11, Matias 8, Castro 7, Manalo 7, Yu 6, Laude 5, Acibar 3, Orquina 3, Celada 2, Acosta 2, Balagtas 0, King 0.
Quarterscores: 37-24, 69-44, 91-73, 120-102.
Third Game
Solid San Juan 102 – Saret 20, Miller 19, Canete 17, Astrero 11, Escalambre JC 7, Danas 6, Abanes 5, Clarianes 4, Matias 4, Jacunap 3, Dada 2, Elarmo 2, Castro 2, Acol 0, Bautista 0, Escalambre JJ 0.
Pateros-Metro Asia 71 – Quinga 23, Asis 16, Mabazza 8, Ongteco 5, Flores 5, Cayangan 5, Pacleb 4, Go 3, Tabasan 2, Cruz 0, Anasco 0, Marcial 0, Ocampo 0.
Quarterscores: 28-11, 48-30, 75-49, 102-71.
