Sarangani rode on the record 50-point outburst of Jeff Viernes and stunned Nueva Ecija in double overtime, 134-123, while San Juan and GenSan trounced their opponents on Saturday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
Viernes poured 19 points, including 17 straight, in the second extension en route to breaking John Wilson’s 44-point individual scoring league record set in 2019 and handing defending champion Nueva Ecija its first loss after piling 11 wins in the single round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
After the euphoria of watching Viernes’ marksmanship (9 of 14 triple tries and 17 of 19 charities) had settled down, the fans then saw the General Santos Warriors clobber Pasig City MCW Sports, 91-76, and the San Juan Knights trounce the Quezon Huskers, 98-69.
Powered by Wilson’s 31-point explosion and Jervy Cruz’s 16-point effort, the Warriors surged ahead beyond recall, 81-64, and improved to 8-3, the same card as the Knights.
Pasig, which fell to 8-5, got 16 points from Robbie Manalang, 12 from Kenny Roger Rocacurva with 12 and Ryan Paule Costelo with 10.
Pouncing on the depleted Huskers, who missed the services of the injured Will Gozum and key players Jeric Teng and Thomas Torres, the Knights led by as many as 33 points, 98-65, and pulled down Quezon to 8-4.
