CALOOCAN rode Jeramer Cabanag to a 84-78 victory vs. Valenzuela on Wednesday to gain traction in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Cabanag clustered nine points in the last three minutes to lift the Batang Kankaloo to their ninth win against six losses in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.
The two-way guard out of San Beda finished with 25 points, including three triples, and four rebounds, as Reil Cervantes came off the bench to contribute 10 points and Marion Magat chimed in nine points and five rebounds.
The Classic, playing catch-up most of the time, seized the lead at 69-68, but Caloocan bunched seven points, with Cervantes and Cabanag's triples sandwiching a Joshua Flores drive, to regain control, 76-68, and ultimately pull down Valenzuela to 10-9.
Veteran JR Quinahan chalked 18 points and five rebounds, while lanky Dennis Santos, who missed two triples and two charities in the homestretch, wound up with 14 points and four rebounds for the Classic.
Pangasinan, Muntinlupa bring on beatdowns
Earlier games saw Pangasinan trounce Bicolandia, 113-91, and Muntinlupa rout Imus, 96-79.
The Heatwaves ruled the boards, 60-42, and converted it to a decisive 76-30 edge in points inside for a 7-11 record.
Michael Juico led them with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, followed by Michael Mabulac with 14 points plus six rebounds, Mac Baracael with 13 points plus four rebounds, and Allen Mina and Jason Tan with 11 points each.
The Oragons dropped to 2-17 despite Shaq Alanes' 38 points, spiked by six triples in the second quarter, four rebounds, and two steals and Lord Casajeros' 15 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds.
The Shoemasters, meantime, surged ahead, 37-14, and never wavered en route to a 6-12 card.
Ahron Estacio struck hardest for them with 22 points, six rebounds, six steals, and four assists. Eric Joseph Pili provided support with 19 points, four assists, three rebounds, plus two steals, and so did RR Casajeros with 14 points, six rebounds, plus five assists, and Jude Codinera with 10 points plus four rebounds.
With Casajeros sinking 3-of-5 attempts and Pili drilling in 4-of-9, Marikina pooled 12 triples against only two for the Agimat, who fell to 1-18.
Imus got 20 points, eight rebounds, and three steals from Nemesis Dela Cruz; 18 points, five rebounds, plus four assists from Jameson Hiro; and 13 points plus 20 rebounds from Carlo de Chavez.
The MPBL returns to the Batangas City Coliseum on Thursday with games pitting Negros against Bacolod at 4 p.m., Iloilo against Nueva Ecija at 6 p.m., and San Juan against Batangas at 8 p.m.
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