The Bacoor Strikers showed new-found power with a 75-55 demolition of the Marikina Shoemasters late Monday and shared the lead with six others in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor City.
Spearheaded by Aaron Jeruta, the Strikers pulled away, 67-40, before cruising to their second straight win that pushed them in the company of early winners Batangas City Embassy Chill and Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines and idle teams Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Quezon Province.
Batangas was ruthless in a 104-55 dumping of Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc., while Zamboanga followed suit with a 77-66 beating of Pasay Voyagers.
The Jaro, Iloilo-born Jeruta, a former Centro Escolar University standout, fired 19 points to go with 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals and was named best player in the nightcap of a triple-bill.
Jeruta was supported by Kraniel Victoria, formerly of the Arellano Univeristy Chiefs, and Chito Jayme with 10 points each and Mark Yee and Alwyn Alday with 7 points each.
Jayme became the 15th member of the MPBL 1000-point club and was given the ball he scored it with by MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.
Yee, on the other hand, snagged 11 rebounds as the Strikers, now under coach Alex Angeles, ruled the boards, 60-53.
Marikina fell to 1-1 despite the 19-point, 12-rebound effort of Jason Opiso as the rest of the Shoemasters cooled down after storming to a 9-0 start.
Zamboanga, out to prove that its capture of last month’s 2023 MPBL Preseason Invitationals was no fluke, banked on reigning MVP Jaycee Marcelino and prized acquisition Dexter Maiquez to pull away at 60-41 and handed Pasay its second straight defeat.
Marcelino posted 17 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block to edge Maiquez, who tallied 16 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks, for best player honors.
