Title hopefuls Batangas and Zamboanga kept their drives in the OKBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League after posting contrasting victories on Tuesday at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Batangas City Embassy Chill met stiff resistance before subduing Pasig City MCW Sports, 80-73, while Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines cruised past hapless Bicol, 93-64.
In the opener, Sarangani subdued Laguna Krah Asia, 101-85, to improve to 5-6.
Both the Batangas Athletics and the Zamboangueños raised their records to 8-2 in the single round-robin elimination round of the 29-team tournament.
Barely ahead, 58-55, after three quarters, Batangas called on Rhaffy Octobre and Jeckster Apinan to defuse Pasig’s final assault.
In the opener, Sarangani subdued Laguna Krah Asia, 101-85, to improve to 5-6.
Octobre poured nine of his 12 points and Apinan eight of his nine in the last 10 minutes as Batangas negated Pasig’s total output of 18 and pulled it down to 7-4.
It was Jhong Baloria who earned best player honors, however, following a 20-point, five-rebound, two-assist line for Batangas — the MPBL inaugural Anta Rajah Cup titlist.
Pasig got 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals from Kenny Roger Rocacurva, 15 points and three rebounds from Ryan Paule Costelo and 11 points from Robbie Manalang.
Although Zamboanga started flat and trailed Bicol, 37-36, at halftime, it was unstoppable when it hit its strides.
Dominating the boards, 52-39, Zamboanga led by 29 points twice, the first at 89-60 and the second at the final buzzer.
Judel Fuentes posted 12 points, five steals and four rebounds, while Jayvee Marcelino tallied 12 points, three rebounds and three assists for Zamboanga coach Vic Ycasiano, who saw all the 15 players he fielded score.
Bicol, which plummeted to its 10th straight defeat, got 13 points from Dan Sara, 12 from Arvin Vitug and 11 from Denzel Wong.
