BATAAN met stiff resistance from Makati before pulling off an 81-77 victory on Monday in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season presented by Xtreme at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex.
San Juan Go for Gold, learning to live without Korean Basketball League-bound Justin Gutang, trounced Muntinlupa, 84-56, in the nightcap to level its slate at 4-4.
The Bataan Risers stormed ahead 54-30 at halftime only to encounter heavy fire from the Makati MNK Kingpins, who unraveled homegrown snipers Mark Angelo Samonte and Carlos Morales and threatened at 63-62 after three quarters.
Makati greeted the third quarter with a 15-point spurt, with Morales pouring back-to-back triples and 8 points and Samonte adding seven, including two triples.
Bataan kept its poise, however, and responded with nine straight points beginning the fourth quarter to notch its fifth straight win and climb to 6-1 in the single round-robin elimination phase of the 22-team tournament split into the North and South divisions.
Guilmer dela Torew led the Camaya Coast-backed Bataan with 17 points and 7 rebounds, followed by Jamil Gabawan with 10 points and 10 rebounds and Gio Espuelas with 10 points and 5 rebounds.
