Pasig MCW Sports fended off Bataan’s final assault to prevail, 70-67, on Saturday and bolster its playoff bid in the OKBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Fifth Season at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga City.
The Bataan Risers bunched seven points to threaten at 67-69, but Ryan Paule Costelo canned his second free throw with 12 seconds left to preserve Pasig’s 13th win against seven losses.
Bataan had one final chance to force overtime, but Yves Sazon missed his triple attempt with only two ticks to go, plunging the Risers’ record to 7-12.
Belying his 5-foot-5 frame, Costelo posted 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists to earn best player honors.
The former San Sebastian Stag was supported by Michael Maestre with 12 points and four rebounds; Kenny Roger Rocacurva with nine points, seven rebounds, six assists plus three blocks; and Jason Ballesteros with 14 rebounds to go with six points and three blocks.
Bataan, which trailed, 47-60, early in the fourth quarter, got 15 points from Robbi Darang and 11 from Sazon.
Earlier games saw Caloocan subdue Imus, 80-71, and Quezon Province dump Pasay, 64-49.
Caloocan rose to 14-5 through Ervin Palencia, Gabby Espinas and Reil Cervantes.
Espinas wound up with 14 points and 10 rebounds, Palencia finished with 14 points, four assists plus three rebounds and Cervantes ended up with 13 points plus seven rebounds.
Imus skidded to 7-11 despite the 28-point, eight-rebound, three-assist effort of Jimboy Estrada and the 14-point, 13-rebound, three-assist, two-steal output of Jaymar Gimpayan.
The Quezon Huskers clustered 24 points, the last 11 coming from RJ Minerva in the second quarter, to surge ahead, 35-24, and cruise to their 13th win against five losses.
Minerva tallied 13 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, plus two steals, followed by Alfrancis Tamsi with 13 points, four assists and three rebounds, Ximone Sandagon with 11 points plus six rebounds, and Lucena City Mayor Mark Alcala with 10 points, three rebounds and two assists.
