By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Today
(Olivarez Sports Complex)
7 p.m. – Bulacan vs Valenzuela
9 p.m. – Parañaque vs Imus
Batangas City proved it can also get the job done on the defensive end as it pulled off a 77-68 win over Quezon City Thursday night and cemented its hold of the top spot in the 2018 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Anta Rajah Cup at the newly-opened Caloocan Sports Complex.
Former Jose Rizal University star Teytey Teodoro and Letran forward Bong Quinto provided the offensive punch off the bench with a combined 29-point production but it was the Tanduay-backed Athletics’ rejuvenated defensive stance in the final period that did the fast-starting Capitals in.
Quezon City, after taking control early on and leading by as many as 11 points in the second period, endured a repeated dry spell in the crunch where it could only muster 11 points, no thanks to Batangas City’s swarming defense.
Big man Jhaymo Eguilos piled up 12 points and 14 rebounds while former pro Lester Alvarez and Paul Varilla made up for the game-long slump of top gunner Val Acuña by teaming up for 22 points for Batangas City, which jacked up its mark to 7-1 and secured the homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.
In the nightcap, the Navotas Clutch silenced the home by upstaging the host Supremos, 66-56.
Letran guard JP Calvo came up big on both ends with 22 points and 11 rebounds on top of three assists while Rey Publico added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Clutch, who stopped a two-game losing skid and moved up to solo sixth with an even 4-4 record.
Journeyman Marlon Basco scored 18 points while fellow backup Cedrick Labing-isa added 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists but they still could not prevent the Supremos from absorbing their seventh loss in eight matches, moving on the brink of an early elimination.
Action resumes at the Olivarez Sports Complex in Parañaque City tonight, with resurgent Valenzuela Classic and pre-season champion Bulacan Kuyas clashing in the 7 p.m. opener.
