By: Justin Valencia
MAKATI scored an emphatic 91-71 victory against Parañaque on Wednesday night to stay unbeaten in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Lakan Cup at the San Andres Sports Complex.
Juneric Baloria led a balanced attack by Makati with 18 points in 16 minutes while Cedric Ablaza and Jeckster Apinan added 12 and 10, respectively.
"We were consistent from the start till the end which is good for us because we were not looking at the score, having the same intensity from start to finish," Makati head coach Cholo Villanueva said.
Kib Montalbo's three-point basket at the 4:14 mark of the third frame gave Makati its biggest lead at 26 points, 68-42.
The Super Crunch-backed Makati broke away for good in the second quarter by outscoring the Patriots 26-17. Edwin Asoro's buzzer-beating trey capped the run that turned a seven-point margin into a 16-point gap at the break, 49-33.
Makati dominated the boards, 46-32, while dishing off 24 assists compared to Parañaque's 16.
Parañaque, which slid to 1-3, was led by Rene Boy Banzali who was the only Patriot in double digits with 16 points.
The scores:
MAKATI 91 – Baloria 18, Ablaza 12, Apinan 10, Lingganay 7, Manlangit 7, Villanueva 6, Sta. Maria 6, Sedurifa 6, Montalbo 5, Cruz 4, Torralba 4, Asoro 3
PARAÑAQUE 71 – Banzali 16, Viscarra 9, Mangalino 8, Saguitguit 6, Pido 6, Begaso 6, Almajeda 5, Abugan 5, Lucente 5, Sunga 3, Solis 2
Quarters: 23-16, 49-33, 74-53, 91-71
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