The Davao Occidental Tigers stretched their winning streak while the Manila Stars and the Basilan Steel bounced back in the Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Season Tuesday at San Andres Sports Complex.
Pouncing on Makati Super Crunch’s listless play, the Tigers prevailed, 101-79, for their fifth straight victory and a pacesetting 21-3 record in the South division.
Flaunting depth and firepower, the Frontrow-backed Stars pulled away in the first quarter and proceeded to rout the Paranaque-Yabo Sports Patriots, 106-78.
Basilan wasted a 20-point spread but kept its poise to thwart Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol, 86-78.
The Stars and the Jumbo Plastics-supported Steel dropped their previous games, 76-77, to the Bataan Risers and 89-96 to Bacolod Master Sardines, respectively.
Like the Tigers, the Steel are assured of a playoff slot in the South with their 17-10 slate.
Same with the Stars, who tote a 22-5 card in the North division.
Mark Yee produced 11 points and 12 rebounds while four others drilled in double digits as the Tigers gave Super Crunch coach Beaujing Acot, who replaced the resigned Cholo Villanueva, a rude welcome.
Chester Saldua scored 14, June Kenneth Mocon and Yvan Ludovice 13 each, and Billy Robles 10 for the Cocolife-backed Tigers, who led from start to finish and by as big as 75-48.
The also-ran Patriots dropped to 8-18 despite the 15-point output of Jemal Vizcarra and James Patrick Abugan.
Refusing to go down without a fight, the Cebu Sharks clustered six points to threaten at 72-76.
Allyn Bulanadi, however, fired back-to-back jumpers and handed an assist to Jhaps Bautista to pad the Steel’s lead anew, 82-74, entering the last two minutes.
Bulanadi, a member of the Gilas pool, wound up with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists as he combined with Chris Dumapig (17 points), Jay Collado (12), and Hesed Gabo (11) to hand the Cebuanos their 12th loss in 25 games.
Carlo Lastimosa and Mark Dyke led the Stars with 16 points each, followed by unheralded Jonjon Gabriel, who was named best player, with 13 points and 8 rebounds.
