Bacoor and Nueva Ecija trounced their opponents, while Iloilo stunned Zamboanga in the OKBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Fifth Season on Tuesday at the Bacoor Strike Gym in Cavite.
The Bacoor Strikers clobbered the Parañaque Patriots, 83-58, to keep pace with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, who dumped the Oriental Mindoro Disiplinados, 84-69, in the round-robin elimination phase.
While the easy victories of Bacoor and Nueva Ecija that pushed their records to 16-2 were expected, Iloilo’s triumph over Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines was a surprise.
With their roster depleted, the Iloilo United Royals relied on homegrown Omar Larupay, and Lorenzo Navarro, especially in the fourth quarter, to improve to 8-11 and rev up their drive for a playoff spot in the 29-team tournament.
A 6-foot-2 high-flyer from the University of the East and Lyceum, Larupay scored 19 points, including the insurance free throws with 13 seconds left, and grabbed 17 rebounds to earn best player honors.
Navarro, formerly of San Sebastian College and Lyceum, wound up with 14 points, nine assists, five rebounds and two steals as the United Royals completed their climb from a 32-45 hole in the second quarter.
Shaquille Imperial added 14 points and JR Sumido contributed 13 points for Iloilo, which also drew eight points and 12 rebounds from CJ Catapusan and nine points plus six rebounds from Joshua Flores.
Zamboanga, the 2023 MPBL Invitation Preseason champion, slid to 14-4 despite the 23-point, 12-rebound effort of Dexter Maiquez and the 14-point, 10-rebound output of Judel Fuentes.
Reigning league Most Valuable Player Jaycee Marcelino was held to 11 points, nine assists and five rebounds, while his twin, Jayvee, settled for 12 points and seven rebounds.
Bacoor drew power from former San Beda star James Kwekuteye with 22 points, six rebounds and three steals. Jimboy Pasturan notched 17 points and two steals, Jhan McHale Nermal 12 points, 10 rebounds and two assists, and Mark Yee 15 rebounds plus four points.
