Caloocan parried Abra’s final thrust and prevailed, 63-59, on Friday, May 3, to gain traction in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
The Caloocan Batang Kankaloo saw their 14-point spread (53-49) vanish in a flash, but found a savior in Reil Cervantes, who drilled in a counter-triple with 23.5 seconds that preserved their second win in three starts in the elimination round of the 29-team tournament.
Irvin Palencia then split his two charities to put the last nail on the Abra Weavers’ third defeat in six games.
It was Ronnie Matias, however, who was chosen best player following a 14-point, 7-rebound performance for
Caloocan Coach Alex Angeles, who also drew 10 points and 4 assists from Jeramer Cabanag, 9 points from Cervantes, and 6 points plus 10 rebounds from Gabby Espinas.
The Weavers tied the count at 62 following a triple by Wendelino Comboy, who wound up with a game-high 18 points but fell short of reversing the outcome.
Other games saw the Valenzuela Classics thwart the Negros Muscovados, 74-70, and the Mindoro Tamaraws subdue the Iloilo United Royals, 77-70.
Exploiting his nearly 300-pound weight, Karl Bono posted 25 points, including 8 in the fourth quarter, 6 rebounds and 2 assists to earn best player honors as the Tamaraws climbed to 2-4 and overtook the Royals (1-4).
Bono, the 6-foot-5 2006 UAAP MVP from the Adamson Falcons, was supported by Andres Desiderio with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and homegrown John Jerrick Caspe with 8 points and 9 rebounds.
In rising to a 3-2 card, Valenzuela took the same route as Caloocan.
Keeping their composure when the Negros Muscovados knotted the count at 70 from a 55-63 deficit, the
Valenzuela Classics banked on Andrei Armenion’s slashing drive to the middle and Chris De Chavez’s two charities to seal the Muscovados’ second loss in five starts.
De Chavez finished with 17 points, including five triples, and 8 rebounds to earn best player honors over Fil-AM CJ Payawal, who had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Dennis Santos also delivered for Valenzuela with 10 points plus 4 rebounds and Armenion, who posted 6 points, 7assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.
Negros got 13 points, nine in the fourth quarter, and 8 rebounds from James Paul Una, 12 points, 4 rebounds plus 3 steals from Renz Palma, 11 points from Jeremy Cruz and 6 points plus 14 rebounds from Mark Atabay.
The MPBL goes to the Olivarez College Gym on Saturday with another triple bill pitting San Juan against Pangasinan at 4 p.m., Bacolod against Marikina at 6 p.m. and Davao against Bataan at 8 p.m.
