MANILA emerged triumphant over Binan, 79-63, on Friday in Greg Slaughter's debut in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
The 7-footer Slaughter delivered 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists to negate five turnovers and was chosen Best Player of the Game in his first stint in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
It was far from being a Slaughter show, however, as Carl Bryan Cruz and Jan Jamon also shone for Manila SV Batang Sampaloc, which notched its 6th win against four losses.
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Cruz posted 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block, while Jamon notched 14 points, including the dagger 3 that pushed Manila up, 66-54, with 4 minutes and 25 seconds to go.
Cruz then sealed Binan's first loss after 6 wins by sinking 2 free throws, capping Manila's 12-point cluster, 68-54, with only 4 minutes and 6 seconds left.
Binan got 15 points and 5 rebounds from Jimboy Estrada and 11 points from Nino Canaleta.
Earlier, Rizal XentroMall nipped Bataan, 87-85, to rise to 6-3.
Kraniel Villoria starred anew for the Rizal Golden Coolers with 21 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals in 34 minutes and 3 seconds of play. He was ably supported by Keith Agovida with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, Charles Dela Cruz with 15 points and 5 rebounds, Marco Balagtas with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists plus 2 steals, and homegrown John Apacible with 11 points and 3 rebounds.
The Bataan Risers, who dropped to 3-6, got 14 points each from Mitchelle Maynes and Dante Paguio, 13 points plus 8 rebounds from Rhaffy Octobre, and 12 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists from Robbi Darang.
The MPBL visits the Quezon Convention Center on Saturday with Mindoro battling Pasay at 4 p.m., Iloilo tackling Quezon City at 6 p.m. and Batangas tangling with Quezon.
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