THE Bacoor Strikers withstood the Muntinlupa Cagers’ final assault and prevailed 74-73 last Wednesday to sustain their rise in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season elimination round at the Bacoor Strike Gym.
Muntinlupa threatened at 70-73 following seven straight points by John Louisse Delos Santos but Michael Canete made the first of two charities with eight seconds left to ensure the Strikers’ fourth straight win and a 15-2 record, good for second spot in the 29-team tournament.
Pampanga sits at the top with a clean 16-0 slate while defending champion Nueva Ecija totes a 14-2 card.
Muntinlupa’s Val Acuna drilled in a buzzer-beating triple to peg the final count in the game controlled by the Strikers, who led by as much as 62-45 before the Cagers clawed their way back.
Jhan McHale Nermal paced Bacoor with 17 points and 6 rebounds, followed by Canete with 16 points plus 7 rebounds, James Kwekuteye with 11 points plus 9 rebounds, and Mark Yee with 10 points plus 9 rebounds.
Muntinlupa, which tumbled to 10-7, got 17 points from Acuna, 11 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals from Delos Santos and 10 points plus 8 rebounds from JP Sarao.
Makati played below par but still managed to beat Laguna, 72-67, while Iloilo nipped Sarangani, 100-98, in the opener.
The Makati OKBet Kings were powered to their 11th win in 17 starts by Billy Robles, who posted 18 points plus 6 rebounds and Rob Celiz, who tallied 11 points plus 12 rebounds.
Laguna slid to 3-15 despite the 30-point explosion of Paolo Pontejos, who added 4 assists and 3 rebounds.
Sarangani led at 98-97 following a five-point cluster by Jeff Viernes and could have increased it, but Jessie Saitanan bungled two free throws with 15 seconds left.
Shaquille Imperial then scored inside and Joshua Flores added a free throw to push Iloilo to a 7-11 card. The United Royals drew firepower from Flores with 31 points, laced by 7 triples, homegrown Omar Larupay with 17 points plus 10 rebounds, Ryan Arambulo with 11 points and Imperial with 10.
