BACOOR and Batangas subdued their rivals on Saturday and boosted their drive toward the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season South Division finals at the Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor, Cavite.
The Bacoor Strikers tightened up on defense and slowed down the pace to repulse Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines, 61-56, in the nightcap and keep in step with the Batangas City Embassy Chill Athletics, who thwarted the GenSan Warriors, 81-75, in the opener of the twin best-of-three semifinal series.
Jhan McHale Nermal struck the hardest for the Strikers with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks to clinch best player honors over teammate James Kwekuteye with 11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block.
Jhaymo Equilos, Bacoor’s best player in its 2-game sweep of Iloilo in the quarterfinals, settled for 6 points but snagged 10 rebounds in addition to 2 steals, 2 assists and 1 block.
With Nermal and Kwekuteye contributing 7 points each, the Strikers surged ahead, 46-35, then quelled Zamboanga’s repeated rallies to move within a win of their first finals appearance in the 29-team league.
Held scoreless in the first three quarters, Joseph Gabayni poured all of his 10 points in the final canto, but his efforts fell short as Zamboanga missed all of its 12 field goal attempts in the last three minutes.
Zamboanga, the reigning South Division champion, got 18 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals from Jaycee Marcelino, who, however, was forced into 6 turnovers.
King Caralipio tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds for Zamboanga, which only got 2 points from its No. 2 scorer Judel Fuentes.