Bacoor, Muntinlupa and Caloocan took different routes toward victories in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season on Thursday at the Bacoor Strike Gym.
The Bacoor Strikers rallied past the Makati OKBet Kings, 81-77; the Muntinlupa Cagers needed overtime to nip the Sarangani Marlins, 105-104; while the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo led all the way and dumped the Laguna Krah Asia Heroes, 101-81.
Trailing by as many as 12 points and five at the start of the last quarter, the Strikers called on Michael Canete, James Kwekuteye and new addition Jimboy Pasturan to tally their 14th win against two losses in the single round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Canete scored 9 of his game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter while Kwekuteye and Pasturan knocked in back-to-back triples that pushed the Strikers ahead, 80-72, with 2 minutes and 17 seconds to go.
Emman Calo made three charities to put Makati closer, but the Kings could only add a layup by Billy Robles and absorbed their sixth defeat in 16 starts.
Canete wound up with 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals to earn best player honors. Mark Yee finished with 13 points and 7 rebounds, Jhan Mchale Nermal tallied 12 points plus rebounds, Kwekuteye posted 11 points p5 rebounds plus 2 steals, and Pasturan 10 points plus 4 assists.
Makati got 24 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists from Rob Celiz, 14 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assist from Emman Calo and 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals from Billy Robles.
