The Parañaque Patriots banked on Jielo Razon to nip the Manila Stars, 74-72, and share the limelight with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in the OKBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Fifth Season late Saturday at the Olivarez College Gym in Parañaque.
Will McAloney bailed out Nueva Ecija twice, first on a follow-up that forced overtime at 74-74, then scored on a lay-up for the marginal basket that handed the Rice Vanguards their eighth straight win and the solo top spot in the elimination round of the 29-team tournament.
McAloney wound up with 17 points and 14 rebounds for defending champion Nueva Ecija, which also drew 13 points from Chris Bitoon and 10 each from Renz Palma and John Byron Villarias.
Marikina tumbled to 3-5 despite the 22-point, nine-rebound effort of RV Berjay, the 17 points of Felipe Chavez, the 16-point, 13-rebound output of Jason Strait and the 12-point, 10-rebound contribution of Jason Opiso.
Razon, a prized find from the University of Perpetual Help, fired nine of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, including the dagger triple with 12 seconds left, as the Patriots notched their fourth win in nine starts.
The Bulacan Kuyas subdued the Bicol Volcanoes, 115-107, in the opener and climbed to the upper half of the standings with a 5-4 slate.
Buenaventura Raflores led the Kuyas with 19 points and nine rebounds, followed by Jordan Ingel with 14 points, Daniel de Guzman and Rhonz Yuson with 13, Jerick Fabian and Joseph Gabayni with 11 each and Renz Alcoriza and Jerick Nacpil with 10 each.
Bicol, which suffered its eighth straight defeat, got a triple-double (11 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) from Dan Sara, 19 points and 14 rebounds from James Martinez, 18 points and nine rebounds from Nick Wilson Abanto, 18 points from Denzel Jansen Wong, and 12 points plus 10 rebounds from Ralph Jeffrey Deles.
