HOME team Binan Tatak Gel found its mark everywhere and razed Nueva Ecija, 99-82, on Tuesday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena.
Following the lead of KG Canaleta's perfect 5-of-5 shooting from afar, Binan canned 11-of-21 triple tries for a high 52.4 percent conversion rate, 18-of-21 free throws (85.7 percent), and 24-of-42 (55.8 percent) from the floor en route to its 14th win against eight losses in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.
The Laguna-based team greeted the third quarter with a 10-point cluster, the last seven by Jonathan Grey, to pull away, 62-39, from which the Rice Vanguards couldn't recover and suffered their third defeat in 21 starts, trailing Pampanga (22-1) and San Juan (21-1) in the overall standings.
Canaleta, a many-time slam dunk king before finding he has the soft touch, posted 23 points, including 10 in the first quarter, and four rebounds.
He was backstopped by JJ Pido provided support with 19 points, five assists, plus four rebounds, and so did Grey with 15 points plus four rebounds, and Pamboy Raymundo with 12 points, three rebound, and three assists.
Veteran Marc Pingris also struck for Binan with eight points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Nueva Ecija, the 2022 MPBL titlist, got 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists from JB Bahio; 15 points and three assists from JC Cullar; and 10 points plus five assists from Chris Bitoon.
So overpowering were the Lagunenses that they allowed the Rice Vanguards to lead only for 46 seconds (7-6) before seizing control.
Caloocan, Paranaque post big wins
Caloocan erected a 20-point spread (50-30) early in the third quarter and used it as a buffer to trip Pasay, 77-71, and rise to 12-8.
Paranaque took the same route to subdue Marikina, 88-78, and catch up with the Voyagers at 14-9.
The Patriots' John Uduba posted 20 points and 14 rebounds to complement JR Olegario's 23 points and JP Sarao's 12 points, 11 rebounds, and two steals.
The Shoemasters skidded to 7-15 despite Eric Joseph Pili's 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
Jeramer Cabanag fired 15 points for the Batang Kankaloo, followed by Paul Sanga and Gabby Espinas with 14 points each and Marion Magat with 13 points plus eight rebounds.
The Voyagers, for their part, got 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals from Warren Bonifacio.
The MPBL returns to the Batangas City Coliseum on Wednesday with a triple-bill pitting Negros against Muntinlupa at 4 p.m., Davao against Zamboanga at 6 p.m., and South Cotabato against Batangas 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.
