The Makati Super Crunch and the Manila Stars took different routes in beating their Chooks-to-Go-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Season opponents on Friday at Caloocan Sports Complex.
Missing some key players, the Super Crunch were unable to pull away from the Navotas Clutch and settled for a 67-62 victory.
The Stars, on the other hand, led by as many as 30 points, 69-39, before cruising to a 76-57 thumping of the Muntinlupa Cagers.
With their wins, Makati (20-4) and Manila (19-4) kept their distance from pacesetter San Juan (20-3) in the North division while boosting their drive for a top four finish in the elimination round which will give them the homecourt edge in the playoffs.
Navotas (6-17) and Muntinlupa (5-18) are both out of the loop in the top eight which will advance to the playoffs.
The rejuvenated Bacolod Master Sardines subdued the Quezon City Capitals, 68-63, in the opener of a three-game bill resuming action following a two-week break taken by the MPBL to give way to the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Parading Ben Nadamos, Ralph Tansingco and Yankie Haruna, Bacolod dominated Quezon City to snap a seven-game slide and keep its faint playoff hopes alive with a 7-15 slate in the South division.
The 6-foot-7 Nadamos finished with 10 points and 6 rebounds; Tansingco chipped in 9 points and 5 rebounds; while Harima, the former NCAA slam dunk champion with College of St. Benilde, wound up with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists to earn best player honors.
Quezon City skidded to 9-15 despite the 20-point effort of Clark Derige , followed by Darren Caraguian with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
Sans former pros Juneric Baloria and Simon Atkins, Makati, under coach Cholo Villanueva, banked on Cedric Ablaza with 15 points and 8 rebounds, Jeckster Apinan with 13 points and 10 rebounds and Joseph Manlangit with 11 points.
The Stars drew 14 points and 8 assists from Chris Bitoon and 14 points from Aris Dionisio.
The MPBL visits Sta. Rosa Sports Complex on Saturday with Sarangani and Basilan clashing at 6:30 p.m. and Imus and Binan City colliding at 9 p.m.
