BALANGA – Visayan teams Iloilo and Bacolod pulled off contrasting victories on Thursday night in the MPBL Lakan Season while host squad Bataan carved out a morale-boosting victory at the People’s Center here.
The Iloilo United Royals scored a 70-55 win over the Marikina Shoemasters – thanks to a solid defensive effort that saw them limit their rivals to just 27 percent shooting from the field.
It was the sixth win in 10 games for the United Royals in the tournament put up by Sen. Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.
Bacolod, on the other hand, walked the tightrope before squeaking past Biñan City, 69-68.
Bacolod picked up only its fourth win in 11 games, but the win put the squad in 10th place, just half a game behind ninth placer Cebu.
Also back on the winning track is Bataan, which spilled Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines, 92-79, in the main game.
Paolo Javelona had a double-double performance of 22 points and 10 assists while Mark Tallo ended up a rebound away from posting his own double-double, finishing with 16 points on top of nine rebounds.
Javelona and Jopher Custodio hit back-to-back treys that touched off the Master Sardines-backed squads strong endgame finish and propelled the team back on the winning track.
