JERSON Prado took up the scoring cudgels in the fourth quarter as Iloilo United Royals thwarted the Rizal Golden Coolers, 71-65, on Monday in the Chooks to Go-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Season at Imus Sports Complex.
The 6-foot-5 Prado, former team captain of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, scored Iloilo’s first 10 points in the decisive period which would have been enough for the Royals sixth straight win, 66-65.
While the Royals held the Golden Coolers scoreless in the final minute, former pro Al Francis Tamsi drilled in a triple and Richard Escoto added two free throws for the final count that raised the Royals’ record to 15-8, tying the Basilan Steel at fourth place in the South division.
Tamsi wound up with 16 points, followed by Prado with 12 plus 7 rebounds and Escoto with 10.
The Golden Coolers, who even grabbed the lead at 63-62 following an eight-point cluster, dropped to 4-17 in the North division.
Rejuvenated Bacolod Master’s Sardines held the Bicol Volcanoes without a field goal in overtime en route to a 76-72 victory in the second game.
Bacolod yielded two free throws to Chris Lalata before silencing Bicol the rest of the way to tally its second straight victory and climb to 8-15 in the South division.
The Volcanoes saw their five-game win run broken and slid to 13-12.
Ralph Tansingco paced Bacolod with 15 points plus 5 rebounds, followed by Ben Adamos with 11 poiunts, and Jess Mar Villahermosa, Jopher Custodio and Yankee Haruna with 10 each.
Playing their second game in three days, the Imus Bandera pulled away from Navotas-Uni-Pak Sardines early in the third quarter and proceeded to notch their sixth win in 26 starts with an 86-71 win.
Jojo Cunanan unloaded 20 points for Imus, which also drew 16 points from Jeric Nacpil and 10 from homegrown John Cantimbuhan.
