IMUS and Muntinlupa posted contrasting victories in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season elimination round at the packed Marikina Sports Center last Tuesday.
The Imus SV Squad battered the Marikina Shoemasters 103-89 while the Muntinlupa Cagers weathered the San Juan Knights’ final onslaught to prevail 91-90.
Already assured of slots in the playoffs, Muntinlupa and Imus raised their records to 15-10 and 13-12, respectively, keeping the sixth and seventh spots in the South division of the 29-team tournament.
Carlo Lastimosa fired 24 points while Hubert Cani added 12, all in the third quarter, as Imus pulled away 77-51 late in the period.
Nino Canaleta added 11 points and Jimboy Estrada 8 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals for Imus, which notched its third straight win.
Marikina skidded to 14-12 despite the 25-point explosion, 20 in the fourth quarter, of RR Casajeros, the 16-point output of Felipe Chavez and the 10-point contribution of Joe Gomez de Liano.
Muntinlupa banked on free throw accuracy to stun San Juan.
Unable to make a field goal in the last four minutes, Muntinlupa compensated by making 11 of 12 charities, with Dave Moralde going 9 of 10 and Ian Melencio hitting 2 of 2 in the last four seconds that enabled the Cagers to withstand the San Juan Knights’ rally from as many as 17 points down, 58-77, early in the fourth quarter.
Michael Calisaan poured 11 points and Marwin Taywan added 8, including the go-ahead layup for San Juan with 11 seconds left.
Muntinlupa drew a game-high 19 points from John Amores, but it was Moralde and Melencio who got the job done in the second half with 17 points and 14 points, respectively. Melencio added 11 assists as the Cagers raised their record to 15-10.
