The Pasay Voyagers tripped the Muntinlupa Cagers, 80-73, in overtime on Thursday, Aug. 15, to stay on course in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Laurenz Victoria starred in the Voyagers 8th straight win at their homecourt, firing the game’s last six points in the extra period and lifting Pasay to a 14-8 record in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Warren Bonifacio, on the other hand, saved the day for the Voyagers when he knocked in a triple with 41 seconds left to knot the count at 71 at the end of regulation period.
Bonifacio wound up with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists while Victoria posted 17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists.
Cyrus Tabi, who sparked Pasay’s closing 9-point run in the extension with a 3-point play, clinched the Daily Fantasy best player honors with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.
Muntinlupa tumbled to 7-15 despite Joshua Miguel Marcos’ 21-point, 7-rebound, 6-assist effort and Alfred Flores’ 18 points (16 in the fourth quarter) and 4 rebounds output.
Manila displayed depth and firepower in a 93-68 rout of Negros earlier.
With 13 of the 15 players fielded scoring, the Manila SV Batang Sampaloc Stars led by as far as 88-60 before coasting to their 16th win against 6 losses.
Tonino Gonzaga paced Manila with 20 points and 4 rebounds, followed by 7-footer Greg Slaughter with 13 points and 12 rebounds, James Sena with 11 points and Carl Bryan Cruz with 9 points and 9 rebounds.
Pounded off the boards (39-55) and outshot on both field goals (31 to 46.6 percent) and free throws (70.4 to 82.4 percent), Negros dropped to 11-13 as only Jan Formento struck back with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
The Marikina Shoemasters edged the Mindoro Tamaraws, 76-72, in the opener to improve to 7-14.
Eric Joseph Pili shone for Marikina with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, and so did Jomel Landayan with 12 points, 4 steals and 3 rebounds, and Marlon Basco with 11 points and 7 rebounds.
Mindoro, which tumbled to 7-16, got 23 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists from Jhon Jerric Caspe and 17 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists from Kint Ariar.
The MPBL goes to the Bren Z Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando City on Friday with a triple bill pitting San Juan against Imus at 4 p.m., South Cotabato against Sarangani at 6 p.m., and Iloilo against host Pampanga at 8 p.m.
