PAGADIAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR—Roxas halted Kapatagan’s four-game winning streak with a 90-72 rout in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Challenge, Thursday at the Pagadian City Gymnasium here.
Marlon Monte led the onslaught with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting alongside five rebounds, four assists, and a block.
Roxas built a 10-point advantage at the half, thanks to a hot 51.6 percent shooting from the field. It also limited Kapatagan to just 33.3 percent, 42-32.
Then the Vanguards blew it up, even more, come the third period.
Roxas exploded for 31 third-quarter points while holding the Buffalos to just 19. It erected an insurmountable 22-point lead heading to the final frame, 73-51.
“Kailangan namin dumepensa kasi galing kami sa tambak na talo,” said Roxas head coach Alvin Grey. “Dapat baligtarin natin mag bounce back tayo tambak din na panalo.”
The Vanguards rose to solo first place at 5-3 while pulling the Buffalos down to 4-3, tied with MisOr and Zamboanga Sibugay for second.
Levi Dela Cruz was a spark off the bench for his team. He finished with 17 points on a 5-of-6 clip from beyond-the-arc in just 12:49 of floor time.
Embons Bonleon and Jaymar Gimpayan also ended inside double digits with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Mark Daanoy led Kapatagan with 15 points and nine rebounds but went 6-of-17 from the field.
New addition Christian Manalo had 11 points on 3-of-3 shooting from the rainbow country.
Both squads will face Zamboanga Sibugay on consecutive days, both at 4:00 PM. The Buffalos meet the Anak Mindanao Warriors on Saturday; meanwhile, the Vanguards play them Sunday.
The Scores:
Roxas 90 – Monte 18, Dela Cruz 17, Bonleon 11, Gimpayan 10, Segura 9, Martinez 7, Valin 5, Tabi 4, Templo 3, Basco 2, Malinao 7, Mabigat 2, Abanto 0.
Kapatagan 72 – Daanoy 15, Manalo 11, Bersabal 9, Lao 9, Bonganciso 8, Kwong 7, Regero 4, Rodriguez 4, Saga 3, Ariar 2, Torres 0, Delfinado 0, Sollano 0, Igot 0.
Quarterscores: 21-17, 42-32, 73-51, 90-72.
