The resurgent Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors clobbered the Soccsksargen Marlins, 89-77, on Friday in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Season at Pasig Sports Complex.
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, Josan Nimes, Jeric Serrano and Robbie Manalang, the Realtors zoomed ahead, 81-59, before cruising to their fourth straight win and a 5-2 record.
Teng fired 25 points on top of 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals; Nimes tallied 19 points and 6 rebounds; Serrano 11 points and 12 rebounds; and Manalang 15 points for Bong de la Cruz’s charges.
The Marlins dropped their sixth straight game despite the 24-point, 11-rebound effort of Raniel Kae Diwa.
Earlier, the short-handed Mindoro Tamaraws rallied from 14 points to stun the Bicol Volcanoes, 74-70.
Sans former pro Mac Baracael and head coach Justin Tan, the Tamaraws leaned on Joseph Brutas and Nicol Bolos in the homestretch to notch their third win against four losses.
Brutas, who wound up with 14 points, nailed a triple from the corner to shove the Tamaraws ahead, 71-70, with 58 seconds left while Bolus canned three of four free throws in the last 12 seconds for the final count.
Homegrown Rodel Vaygan chipped in 13 points while Sandy Cenal contributed 10 points for the Tamaraws.
The Volcanoes stormed ahead, 30-24, and were still ahead, 70-68, with 1 minute and 7 seconds to go, before the Tamaraws’ final salvo.
Ronjay Buenafe could have saved the Volcanoes, but muffed two free throws in the last 18 seconds then missed a potential game-winning three, pulling them down to 5-4.
Baracael, the Tamaraws’ go-to-guy was put on the inactive list for unknown reasons, while Tan attended the wedding of close friend Jio Jalalon of the Magnolia Hotshots, designating Bengie Teodoro and MC Abolucion to call the shots.
In the opener, Basilan Steel foiled Iloilo United Royals, 78-74, to rise to 5-3 and pull down its victim to 4-4.
Irven Palencia led the Jumbo Pastics-backed Steel with 15 points followed by Daren Lunor with 13 and Bobby Balucanag with 12.
Saturday’s games supposed to be held at Navotas Sports Complex were cancelled due to inclement weather.