PARANAQUE sent home its fans with smiles on their faces after fending off rallying Rizal Xentromall, 82-73, on Thursday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Olivarez College Gymnasium.
Barely ahead, 75-73, with under two minutes to go, the Patriots scored seven unanswered points to climb to 9-6 and pull down the Golden Coolers to 8-7 in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.
JP Sarao drilled a triple, Keith Pido added two free throws, and Philip Manalang drove in for a layup in the endgame to frustrate Rizal, which once led at 39-30.
Joshua Gallano paced Paranaque with 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks, closely followed by Sarao with 18 points, three blocks, and two rebounds. Jielo Razon also contributed 13 points and six rebounds, while Pido finished with eight points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Rizal tasted its third straight defeat despite the 30-point, including six triples, 6-rebound, 3-steal effort of Alwyn Alday and the 10-point, 6-rebound, 3 assist output of Bambam Gamalinda.
READ: Zamboanga hands Imus a 15th defeat; Sarangani triumphs
With 14 players contributing in the scoring column, Zamboanga Master Sardines led throughout and was never challenged to trounce the Imus Agimat VA Drones, 110-71.
Zamboanga now ranks fifth behind Quezon Province (13-0), Nueva Ecija (12-0), Pampanga (13-1), and San Juan (11-1) in the race for playoff spots.
The Sarangani Marlins then drubbed the Bicolandia Oragons, 101-55, to improve to 4-11.
The MPBL goes to the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Friday with Quezon City battling Marikina at 4 p.m., Muntinlupa tackling Pangasinan at 6 p.m., and Binan tangling with host San Juan at 8 p.m.
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