by Jerome Lagunzad
Game Tomorrow (Muntinlupa Sports Center)
7 p.m. – Muntinlupa vs Batangas City
Batangas City reasserted its mastery over Muntinlupa, 78-74, on Saturday night to move on the cusp of clinching the inaugural Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Anta Rajah Cup title.
The top-ranked Athletics led, 74-65, with 74 seconds left and preserved the win despite the Cagers’ closing 9-0 run at the overflowing Batangas City Coliseum.
Big man Jhaymo Eguilos had 16 points, making all but one of his eight attempts from the field, while top guns Val Acuña and Teytey Teodoro, along with two other teammates, tallied nine points each to lift Batangas to its second straight win against the Cagers.
The Athletics, who took the opener, 70-64, can finish off the Cagers tomorrow at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.
Batangas City coach Mac Tan, however, remains cautious.
“This is not the best time to celebrate as we haven’t achieved anything yet,” he stressed. “We’re taking a break (on Sunday) not because we have a 2-0 lead. We wanted them to be with their families, but on Monday, we’re going to start working hard again in practice.”
Former pro Chito Jaime led all scorers with 18 points while Allan Mangahas and Dave Moralde tallied 15 points each for the Cagers, who refused to go down without a fight.
Felix Apreku sank a jumper, Jaime scored on a lay-up, Mangahas drilled in a triple and Don Reverente made a pair of lay-ups, triggering an 11-3 run that pulled Muntinlupa within 74-75, time down to just 28 seconds.
A split by Teodoro from the 15-foot line restored Batangas City’s lead back to two. In the ensuing play, Muntinlupa had a chance to tie things up but Reverente missed a crucial 18-foot jumper, forcing the Cagers to foul Athletics’ Mark Olayon.
The scores:
BATANGAS 78 – Eguilos 16, Acuna 9, Teodoro 9, Quinto 9, Rogado 9, Olayon 7, Varilla 6, Grimaldo 4, Santos 4, Alvarez 3, Villamor 2.
MUNTINLUPA 74 – Jaime 18, Mangahas 15, Moralde 15, Llagas 9, Buenaflor 6, Ylagan 5, Reverente 4, Apreku 2, Vergara 0, Salaveria 0, Stevens 0.
Quarters: 13-14, 38-24, 60-46, 78-74.
