By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Today
(Batangas City Coliseum)
7 p.m. – Navotas vs Valenzuela
9 p.m. – Parañaque vs Batangas
Host Muntinlupa’s sustained attack proved too hot to handle for visiting Quezon City as the Cagers stopped the Capitals, 103-87, on Tuesday night in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Anta Rajah Cup.
Egged on by a partisan crowd inside the jampacked Muntinlupa Sports Complex, the Cagers raced to a quick 13-to-nothing start and unleashed another strong assault in the stretch to snap the Capitals’ expected fightback.
Former University of the East standout Pari Llagas led a balanced charge with 21 points, making all but one of his 11 attempts from the field, while GJ Ylagan pumped in 16 points, spiked by four treys, to help Muntinlupa stretch its winning streak to four matches and tie its latest victim at second spot with similar 4-1 cards.
Unheralded Jomar Santos had a team-high 16 points while Jay Collado tallied 15 markers and 11 rebounds for the Capitals, who recovered from a sluggish start and even threatened within 82-84 midway in the final period.
But that proved to be Quezon City’s last hurrah as Muntinlupa uncorked a telling 19-5 run, with former pro Chito Jaime, Dave Moralde, Allan Mangahas and Felix Apreku taking turns in delivering the goods.
Earlier, Bataan finally got over the hump at the expense of fellow struggler Imus, 91-87.
Al Carlos emerged as the unlikely source of production with 22 points while former pro star Gary David added 20 points, six rebounds and five assists to help the Defenders hold off the Bandera in a tight finish and improve their mark to 1-4 in a tie with idle Caloocan Supremos.
Former Adamson hotshot Patrick Cabahug finished with 20 points, spiked by six triples, while Chestern Melencio added 15 points that all went down as the Bandera failed to give new coach Jerry Codiñera a winning debut, dropping to 0-5 overall.
