SOUTH Cotabato and Caloocan prevailed over separate opponents on Friday and boosted their bids for better playoff placings in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
The Warriors subdued Davao Occidental, 84-74, while the Batang Kankaloo trounced Negros, 93-85, in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.
Powered by Jammer Jamito, South Cotabato raised its record to 16-11, switching sixth and seventh places with the Tigers, who dropped to 15-12 in the South Division.
Jamito posted a 21-point, 17-rebound double-double, and was supported by Fil-Am AJ Benzon with 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists and Enzo Joson with 10 points, four steals, and three assists.
Davao trailed by as many as 19 points (53-72) despite the 23-point, 20-rebound, 6-assist, 4-steal effort of Arth Dela Cruz.
Caloocan, for its part, led throughout and by as far as 77-52 before coasting to a 15-9 slate in the North Division, where it is tied for the sixth spot with Abra.
Gabby Espinas posted 23 points and 13 rebounds, Paul Sanga tallied 22 points and four rebounds, and Reil Cervantes got 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Batang Kankaloo, now being coached by Ronnie Dojillo.
Although the Muscovados tumbled to 12-16, they remain assured of the eighth and last playoff berth in the South Division being led by Quezon Province (20-5) and Zamboanga Master Sardines (20-6).
Negros got 17 points, five assists, and thre rebounds from Renz Palma and 16 points plus 15 rebounds from Ryan Reyes.
Quezon City stays alive
Quezon City TODA Aksyon trounced also-ran Bataan, 76-60, in the opener to improve to 13-13 and remain in contention for a playoff spot.
With Hubert Cani firing 18 points, including four triples; Abdul Sawat logging 16 points and three rebounds; and Rhinwill Yambing chipping in 13 points, spiked by three triples and a breakaway drunk, three assists and two steals, QC led from the start and by as much as 70-52.
Quezon City trails eighth-placed Rizal Xentromall (14-12), Caloocan (14-9), and Abra in the hunt for the last three playoff seats in the North Division being lorded over by overall leaders San Juan (25-1), Pampanga (25-2). and Nueva Ecija (22-3).
The Risers, who saw their four-game win run snapped, dropped to 9-17. They got 11 points each from Edrian Ramirez and Yves Sazon and 10 points from Jamil Gabawan.
The MPBL visits the Angeles University Foundation Gym for the first time this year with games pitting Pangasinan against Imus at 4 p.m., Batangas against Muntinlupa at 6 p.m., and Pampanga against Quezon Province at 8 p.m.
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.
