MINDORO added another power to its list of victims, as it left Manila SV Batang Sampaloc stunned for a 78-77 thrilling triumph on Friday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
The Stars moved ahead, 76-67, with just a little over a minute left following successive triples by Joshua Torralba and Jimboy Pasturan, but the Tamaraws closed out with 11 points - all but three by Jayvee Dela Cruz - against a charity by Torralba to post their second straight shocker and improve to 7-15.
Mindoro, which also bested the Quezon Huskers (66-61) a week ago, drew 25 points, highlighted by four triples, six rebounds, and six assists from Dela Cruz; 16 points, four rebounds, and five assists from Ken Bono; and 10 points plus five rebounds from Teytey Teodoro.
Manila, which suffered its first loss with Greg Slaughter in tow, dropped to 15-6, as Torralba and Pasturan wound up with 13 points each and Rabeh Al-Hussaini contributed 10 points and six rebounds. Slaughter ended with eight points and three rebounds in 14 minutes of play.
Caloocan rampages, Iloilo rallies
Home team Caloocan, meanwhile, silenced Bataan in the third quarter en route to a 60-52 victory
The Batang Kankaloo held the Risers to four points in that span while coming through with 26 to seize control, 51-34, to tally their 11th win against seven losses.
Rhaffy Octobre ended Bataan's dry spell with a bucket at 4:40, but Caloocan countered with a 10-2 run and proceeded to pull the Risers down to 5-16.
Jeramer Cabanag wound up with 16 points and five rebounds, followed by Gabby Espinas with nine points and 10 rebounds, and Ronnie Matias with seven points, four rebounds, six assists, and three steals for the Batang Kankaloo.
The Risers got 17 points and six rebounds from Octobre and nine points, three rebounds, and six assists from Edrian Ramirez.
In the other game, Iloilo came from behind to down Muntinlupa, 63-58, and climb to 8-13.
Ry Dela Rosa led the Royals, who halted a four-game slide, with 14 points and four rebounds, followed by AJ Madrigal with 11 points and three assists.
The Cagers tumbled to 7-14 despite the 16-point, 3-assist effort of Alfred Flores and the 11-point, 4-rebound output of Jasper Cuevas.
The MPBL returns to the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Balanga City on Saturday with games pitting Sarangani against Davao at 4 p.m., Batangas against Zamboanga at 6 p.m., and Nueva Ecija against Pangasinan at 8 p.m.
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