MANILA tripped Bataan 90-84 on Wednesday and gained traction in the MPBL (Maharlike PIlipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Other games saw Pangasinan vent its wrath on Bulacan 87-55 and Bacolod repulse Sarangani 84-81.
Pao Javellona and Carl Bryan Cruz scored 17 points each, while Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Ahmad Didat Hanapi added 15 each as Manila SV Batang Sampaloc notched its second straight win and climbed to 2-1 in the round-robin elimination round of the country’s top regional league.
Their joint efforts enabled Manila to lead by as far as 69-52 and hand Bataan its first loss in three outings.
Javellona added seven assists and six rebounds to earn best player honors over Cruz, who also had six rebounds, four blocks and two assists.
Al-Hussaini, a former UAAP MVP, also posted three rebounds, two assists and two blocks while Hanapi added seven rebounds.
Having dropped their first two games, the Pangasinan Heatwaves played all-out from the start and were never in trouble as Hesed Gabo presided over their offense with 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Gabo was supported by Michael Mabulac and homegrown Mark Meneses, who chalked four rebounds, two assists and two steals each.
