By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Today
(Navotas Sports Complex)
7 p.m. – Imus vs Bataan
9 p.m. – Navotas vs Muntinlupa
With former pro Reed Juntilla leading the way, the visiting Zamboanga Valientes compound the misery of struggling host Pasig Pirates, 92-78, on Thursday night in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Anta Datu Cup at the Pasig City Sports Center.
Juntilla led all scorers with 23 points, most of them off mid-range jumpers and inside incursions, on top of four rebounds and two assists to help the confident Valientes took control early on and keep the struggling Pirates at bay in the second half.
Former Perpetual Help star Noy Javier provided a strong offensive punch off the bench with 15 points while Jonathan Parreño and Tausug native Das Esa combined for 21 points as Zamboanga notched its second straight win and third overall in five starts, moving up to solo second in the South Division.
Letran product Ronjay Enrile finished with 22 points while former Alaska backup Bernzon Franco added 18 points and 11 rebounds that all went for naught as Pasig City struggled to sustain another encouraging start and, in the process, stayed at the cellar of the North Division with its fourth straight setback.
Earlier, the Marikina Shoemasters stopped a two-game bleeding at the expense of the Quezon City Capitals, 78-74.
Erwin Sta. Maria came up big with 22 points and 12 rebounds on top of two blocks and as many steals while guard Ronald Roy tallied 19 points and Ronald Ng Sang added 13 points and 19 rebounds as the Shoemasters throttled the Capitals with a strong showing in the final period.
Actor-model Gerald Anderson finally made his league debut much to the delight of the sizeable crowd, but he went scoreless in 13 minutes of play, missing all of his six attempts from the field.
