BACOOR CITY – Streaking Bacoor Strikers and glowing Manila Stars posted contrasting victories Monday and assured themselves of top four finishes in the elimination round of their respective divisions in the Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Season at Strike Gym here.
With three players submitting double-doubles, the Strikers subdued the General Santos Warriors,87-75, while the Stars overpowered the Mindoro Tamaraws, 133-101, in record-setting fashion as they clinched home court advantages in the eight-team playoffs of both the South and North divisions.
Michael Mabulac led the Strikers with 17 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Michael Canete with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and MVP contender Gab Banal with 10 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds.
RJ Ramirez chipped in 11 points and 3 steals for the Strikers, who tallied their seventh straight win for a 22-5 card in the South division.
GenSan fell to 16-9 despite the return of Fil-Am standout Mike Williams from the United States.
Williams wound up with 17 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds for the Warriors, who threatened at 60-61 only to be driven back by a 14-2 salvo orchestrated by Mabulac, Ramirez and Oping Sumalinog for Bacoor.
On the way to its 133 total, which eclipsed Navotas’ 125, Frontrow-backed Manila set new league marks in fastbreak points (55), points in the paint (94), assists (42) and fourth quarter points (39).
Former pro Carlo Lastimosa presided over Manila’s 23rd win against five losses with an MPBL career-high 27 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. He was supported by 6-foot-6 center Jonjon Gabriel with 16 points and 8 rebounds, Gabby Espinas with 15 points and five rebounds, Jollo Go with 12 points, Marvin Lee with 11 points, Mac Montilla with 10 points, and Chris Bitoon with 8 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds.
Mindoro dropped to 9-18 in the South.
Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol bested the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, 77-73, in the second game to boost its playoff drive in the South.
The Cebuanos rose to 12-13 through the 22-point effort of Rhaffy Octobre, the 11 points of Nichole John Ubalde and the 10 points of Kraniel Viloria.
Nueva Ecija, which skidded to 8-18, got 14 points from Jai Reyes, 11 from Marlon Monte, and 10 each from Tonino Gonzaga and James Martinez.
The MPBL visits Alonte Sports Arena on Tuesday with Sarangani facing Bicol at 4:15 p.m. Other games pit Imus against Marikina at 6:30 p.m. and Pasig against Binan at 8:30 p.m.
