By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Today
(Olivarez Sports Center)
7 p.m. — Valenzuela vs Imus
9 p.m. — Quezon City vs Parañaque
Muntinlupa sustained its resurgence while Caloocan finally barged into the win column as they carved out big victories on Tuesday night in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Anta Rajah Cup at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga City.
The Cagers took control early on and built a lead as high of 19 points then showed enough poise down the stretch to foil struggling Bulacan Kuyas, 75-71, stretching their win-run to three while giving coach Aldrin Morante a fitting birthday present.
Former pro Chito Jaime finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Dave Moralde and Pari Llagas tallied 13 points apiece for Muntinlupa, which improved to 3-1 overall, pulling half-a-game behind co-leaders Quezon City and Batangas.
Not to be outshone were the Supremos, who defeated free-falling host Bataan Defenders, 76-69, for their breakthrough victory.
Far Eastern University product Marlon Adolfo collected 17 points and six rebounds while guard Mar Villahermosa and big man Allen Enriquez combined for 27 points to help Caloocan overcome the absence of coach John Kallos, who was serving a one-game suspension.
James Castro had 14 points while former pro star Gary David tallied 10 points on a rough 3-of-12 shooting from the field that typified Bataan’s miserable form with its fourth straight setback.
The Defenders gave their hometown crowd some glimmer of hope when David completed a go-ahead three-point play off an Enriquez foul for a 68-67 lead with less than three minutes to play.
The Supremos, however, had other plans as Dawn Ochea scored on a jumper then Villahermosa drained back-breaking triple that put them back in control, leaving the Defenders scrambling anew in the crunch.
Jorey Napoles and James Martinez had 12 points each while Stephen Siruma added 11 points and six assists that all went down the drain as the Kuyas, the pre-season champion, suffered their third straight setback after four matches.
