By Kristel Satumbaga
The Makati Super Crunch and the Batangas City Athletics bested their rivals in contrasting fashions on Wednesday in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Super Crunch banked on a fourth-quarter blast to whip the Zamboanga Valientes, 77-65, while the Athletics squeaked past the Rizal Crusaders, 92-90.
Jeckster Apinan scored 19 points and nine rebounds while Joseph Manlangit and James Mangahas combined for 27 points for the Super Crunch, who outscored the Valientes in the final period, 30-18, to unlock from a 47-all third-quarter tie en route to their ninth win in 13 matches.
Lester Alvarez, meanwhile, sizzled for 23 points for the Athletics, who improved to 8-6.
The Valientes and the Crusaders fell to 5-7 and 4-10 cards.
