By Kristel Satumbaga
The Parañaque Patriots and the Bacoor Strikers bested separate opponents on Wednesday to improve their semis chances in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup at the STRIKE gym in Cavite.
The Patriots leaned on Harold Miguel Arboleda and Robin Rono to topple the Pasig Pirates, 87-69, while Gab Banal steered the Strikers past the Navotas Clutch, 81-75.
Arboleda flirted with a triple-double by finishing with 23 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists while Rono added 22 points as the Patriots clinched their sixth victory against five defeats.
The Strikers, on the other hand, tied the Imus Bandera at 5-4 – big thanks to Banal, who exploded for 30 points aside from grabbing 10 rebounds.
Mark Montuano and Christopher Sumalinog also delivered for the Strikers with 11 points each even as Raymond Maconocido chipped in 10 points.
The Pirates plummeted to their ninth loss in 10 matches while the Clutch dropped to 4-5.