Sarangani bested Valenzuela in a see-saw encounter, 77-73, in the opener of the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) on Monday at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Yvan Ludovice drilled in a short jumper down the stretch to cap his heroics for the retooled Sarangani Marlins, who defended well to foil Valenzuela’s last three triple attempts.
The 5-foot-8 Ludovice wound up with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 rebounds to lift Sarangani to victory in the game that saw 16 lead changes and 8 ties.
You Tube sensation Krystoffe Jimenez, formerly of Perpetual Help, also delivered for coach John Kallos with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal, while Paul Sanga contributed 11 points.
Eric Caunan, a 6-foot-5 power leaper, snagged 13 rebounds for Sarangani.
Valenzuela drew 15 points from Jaymar Gimpayan, 12 from Jess Quilatan, 11 from Brylle Ivan Meca and 10 from Patrick Cabahug.
Mentored by Aldrin Morante, Valenzuela scored the game’s first seven points, but Sarangani answered with an even sharper 10-point cluster, paving the way for the
Paul Sanga scored 10 points while Krstoffe Jimenez and Yvan Ludovice added 8 and 7, respectively, to push Sarangani ahead, 35-34, at halftime.
Brylee Ivan Meca contributed nine points and Felix Apreku 8 rebounds for Valenzuela, which ruled underneath, 27-21.
A brief opening ceremony graced by Senator Manny Pacquiao, the MPBL founder and chairman, followed the opner.
MBPL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes declared the MPBL fourth season open before a huge crowd and representatives and muses of the competing teams.
The MPBL will resume on Monday, May 2 with another doubleheader pitting Bacolod against San Juan and Nueva Ecija against Pasig in a venue yet to be announced.
