Robbie Manalang showed the way as Pasig defeated Rizal, 78-72, on Monday night for their second straight win in the MPBL Lakan Cup at the Pasig Sports Arena.
Manalang scored 18 points while unheralded Richard Velchez fell just a rebound short of a double-double, scoring 11 points.
The Realtors notched their third win in five games, moving up to fifth spot in the northern division.
Three other Pasig players also wound up in double figures.
Argel Mendoza added 13 markers, Josan Nimes chipped in 11 and Jeric Teng contributed 10 for the Realtors, who also got a game-high 17 rebounds from Jeric Serrano.
Earlier, Mindoro ran roughshod over Cebu, 94-73, for its second win in five games.
Rodel Vaygan finished with a career-high 30 points for the Tamaraws, who also drew 14 markers from ex-pro Mac Baracael and 10 points apiece from Sandy Ceñal and Kim Cinco.
The win was the first in his MPBL coaching career for Mindoro team owner Justin Tanas, as Mindoro held Cebu’s top gun Patrick Cabahug to just six markers.
Mindoro grabbed 49 rebounds, 13 more than Cebu.
“We offered this game to the Mindoreños na gutom sa panalo lalo na against a south team, Cebu,” said Tan.
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