The Bacoor City Strikers built a 20-point lead on their way to a 78-69 victory over the Bulacan Kuyas in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Bacoor Strike Gymnasium in Cavite on Friday.
Mark Yee made a double-double and three other Strikers submitted double figures as Bacoor stretched its winning streak to seven and vaulted to 11-1, trailing only defending champion Nueva Ecija (11-0) and rejuvenated Pampanga (10-0) in the elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Showing he’s still dependable at 41, Yee scored 11, capped by a game-sealing slam, grabbed 12 rebounds, issued five assists, made two steals and had a block for Bacoor, which pulled away at 62-42 early in the fourth quarter.
Yee’s efforts were complemented by James Kwekuteye with 12 points and six rebounds, Alwyn Alday with 11 points, Michael Canete with 10 points and Jammer Jamito with eight points plus 12 rebounds.
The Kuyas dropped to 6-7 despite the 22-point, six-rebound output of Rence Alcoriza, the 11-point contribution of Daniel de Guzman and the 10-point output of Kentoy Segura and Joseph Gabayni, who also collared 12 rebounds.
In other games, Caloocan nipped Iloilo, 91-87, in overtime and Laguna subdued Bicol, 89-80.
Caloocan dropped a nine-point salvo behind Jeramer Cabanag and Mac Baracael opening the extra period and this proved enough to push Batang Kankaloo to an 8-4 card.
Cabanag wound up with 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, while Baracel finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and two blocks as Caloocan pulled down Iloilo to 5-7.
Jerome Garcia powered Laguna to a 3-10 slate with 21 points, followed by Paolo Pontejos with 12 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and Kenneth Acibar with 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
