Manila survived against Cam Norte, securing an 80-77 victory to claim its second consecutive win in the Pilipinas Super League President’s Cup on Monday night at the Filoil-EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Stars endured a grueling, highly physical encounter that witnessed two players being ejected from the game and a series of flagrant and technical fouls issued to both squads.
Manila’s forward, Kyle Neypes, and Cam Norte’s guard, Denzel Wong, engaged in a heated exchange, resulting in both players being ejected from the game with 24 seconds remaining before entering the final quarter, with the Stars holding a 54-49 lead.
The intense incident gave way to tense moments leading to the final seconds of the game when a three-point shot by Jefferson Arceo brought the Warriors within striking distance at 77-78, with 28 seconds left in the game.
However, Marcy Arellano drew a foul in the last three seconds and calmly sank both free throws, securing the Stars’ second win in less than a week.
In an earlier game, 1Munti defeated NKT Snipers, 79-72.
Four players reached double figures for 1Munti, led by Michael Macion, who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.
Russell Koga played a solid all-around game, contributing 12 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Mark Sarangay and Ford Ruaya each tallied 10 points, showcasing a balanced production for 1Munti.
“About half of the team are also playing in the MPBL, so there’s no problem for us when it comes to familiarity,” said Koga.
