BATAAN and Makati continued their impressive run in the MPBL Datu Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig.
Ex-pro Byron Villarias came away with a double double as the Risers survived a tough stand by the Cebu Sharks, 76-69, for a league-best eighth straight win.
The cousin of NLEX Road Warrior rookie guard Kiefer Ravena scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Two more others finished in double figures – Pamboy Raymundo with 12 and Jeepy Faundo with 10 - as Bataan improved to 8-1 for the solo lead in the Northern Division.
Villarias’ double-double effort was matched by Cedric Ablaza, who had 15 points and 10 boards in powering the Makati Skyscrapers to a tense 67-64 triumph over the Valenzuela Classic.
The 6-foot-3 Ablaza joined forces with ex-pro Rudy Lingganay in scoring the last three points from the free throw line for Makati, which won a second straight game to improve to 6-3.
Valenzuela, which dropped to 2-7 after a fifth straight loss, had a chance to send the game to overtime, but Rocky Acidre’s three-point try failed to hit the mark in the last two seconds.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
