BALANGA, Bataan – The Bataan Risers survived Allyn Bulanadi’s fourth quarter outburst to subdue the Basilan Steel, 91-83, and bolster their playoffs drive in the Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Season on Thursday at Bataan People’s Center.
Ahead by as many as 22 points and enjoying a 67-47 cushion entering the final frame, the Risers saw Bulanadi erupt for 23 points, including the Steel’s last 16, and push Basilan closer, 83-89, with 24 seconds to go.
Bulanadi’s efforts fell short, however, as Joseph Nalos canned two charities with 20 seconds left to ensure Bataan’s 15th win against nine losses in the North division, the same as Basilan in the South division of the 31-team league.
John Bryon Villarias led the Camaya Coast-supported Risers with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, followed by Chito Jaime with 13 points and 5 rebounds, and Reed Juntilla with 12 points.
The 6-foot-2 Bulanadi, latest hotshot out of San Sebastian College, wound up with 26 points and 3 rebounds for the Jumbo Plastics-backed Steel, who saw their six-game win run broken.
Cris Dumapig and Arvie Bringas chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively, for Basilan.
In other games, the Mindoro Tamaraws repulsed the Rizal Golden Coolers, 74-73, while the Binan City Luxxe White subdued the Caloocan Supremos, 72-68.
Staring at a 67-73 deficit, the Golden Coolers clustered six points to knot the count.
Richard Abanes, however, canned the second of his two free throws with two seconds to go for the marginal point that raised Mindoro’s record to 9-17, in the South,
Abanes paced Mindoro with 22 points while Jordan Rios fired a game-high 24 points for Rizal, which fell to 4-18, in the North.
Clark Bautista emerged top scorer for Binan was 20 points, but it was Kyle Neypes who delivered the four lethal points after Caloocan’s Paul Sanga tied the game at 68 with a triple.
Binan climbed to 11-14 and kept its playoffs bid alive in the South. Caloocan, being supported by Victory Liner, is clinging at the eighth and last playoff spot in the North with its 14-11 slate.
The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League goes to the San Andres Sports Complex on Friday with Sarangani facing Valenzuela at 4:15 p.m., Muntinlupa battling Iloilo at 6:45 p.m. and Bacolod tackling Manila at 8:45 p.m.