BALANGA — Visayan teams Iloilo and Bacolod pulled off contrasting victories on Thursday night in the MPBL Lakan Season even as host Bataan carved out a much-needed victory at the People’s Center here.
Defense was the name of the game for the Iloilo United Royals, who held the Marikina Shoemasters to just 27-percent shooting on their way to a 70-55 triumph - their sixth in 10 games.
Bacolod, on the other hand, walked the tightrope before beating Biñan City, 69-68.
Paolo Javelona had a double-double performance of 22 points and 10 assists while Mark Tallo ended up a rebound away from posting his own double-double, finishing with 16 points on top of nine rebounds.
Javelona and Jopher Custodio hit back-to-back treys that touched off a mean finishing kick that enabld Bacolod to pick up only its fourth win in 11 games. The squad is now in 10th place, just half a game behind ninth-placer Cebu.
Also back on the winning track is Bataan, which ripped Zamboanga, 92-79, in the main game.
Byron Villarias’ torrid shooting enabled the Risers to outplay Zamboanga, which dropped to a tie for seventh to eighth places with the Bicol Volcanoes in the southern division.
Villarias shot a prolific 6-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc for 23 points and got plenty of support from his teammates.
Anton Asistio hit all of his five three-point attempts to finish with 15 markers.
Alvin Pasaol added 14 points while Alfred Batino had a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Risers, who scored 27 points from 20 Zamboanga turnovers.
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