The Pasay Voyagers returned to orbit with an 89-75 trouncing of the Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers on Wednesday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Propped up by their loud local fans, the Voyagers clustered 10 points, the first 6 by Laurenz Victoria, in the fourth quarter for a 72-49 spread that pushed their record to 4-2 in the elimination round of the 29-team tournament.
Victoria scored 21 points and snared 6 rebounds as Pasay rebounded from a 70-77 beating by South Cotabato on May 2 to catch up with its victim in the standings.
Other Voyagers who delivered were Patrick Sleat with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, Dhon Reverente with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals and Warren Bonifacio with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks..
Earlier, Batangas City banked on a four-cornered attack to thwart Negros, 72-62, while South Cotabato wasted a 20-point spread but held on to beat Bulacan, 85-82.
Drawing firepower from Jeckster Apinan, Mark Cruz, Cedric Ablaza and RJ Ramirez, the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters pulled way at halftime, 37-22, and proceeded to raise its slate to 5-1.
Apinan collected 14 points, 9 rebounds. 3 assists and 2 steals, Cruz 13 points plus 7 rebounds, Ablaza 11 points, 9 rebounds plus 3 blocks, and Ramirez 10 points plus 3 rebounds for the MPBL inaugural titlists in 2018.
MJ Dela Virgen also did his share with 9 points and 7 assists for Batangas, which pulled down Negros to the lower half of the standings at 3-4.
The Muscovados got 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals from Renz Palma and 10 points plus 2 rebounds and 2 steals from Jeremy Cruz.
