Silently building up its team prior to the league, Navotas came out strong in its first game of the new MPBL season by blasting Pasay, even as host team Manila came from behind before turning back fellow favored team Bataan late Saturday night at the packed San Andres Gym.
The Clutch showed up with only two holdovers left from last season’s roster, but they didn’t have difficulty displaying better team chemistry in their 89-82 win over the Pasay Voyagers.
Only Rey Publico and Ron Dennison were retained form last season’s roster as the team made a total revamp from the coaching staff all the way to the last player on the bench.
The Clutch found a new top gun in former TNT guard Levy Hernandez, who scattered 26 points to power his team in just his first game in the fastest regional amateur basketball league in the country put un by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.
But Hernandez wasn’t the only one who did much of the damage on the Voyagers.
Publico showed vast improvement as he finished with a rebound away form posting a double-double performance. The newly appointed team captain finished with 22 points and nine boards and his showing earned praise from new head coach Ritchie Ticzon.
“We gave him a bigger responsibility this season. We named him team captain to serve as leader on the floor. But more than that, he was a big contributor for us on both ends of the floor,” added Ticzon.
Manila Stars-Robust fought back from a 10-point, third-quarter deficit before turning back Bataan, 89-82, in the other game.
Behind veterans Drian Celada, Riel Cervantes and young star Aris Dionisio, the Stars overcame a 10-point deficit behind a blistering 15-3 run in the third period to turn a 56-46 deficit to a 61-59 edge.
Manila even posted its biggest lead at 84-74, but watched as Bataan came in closer to within striking distance following eight unanswered points before the Stars got a big break in the final 1:25 of the game when Risers’ coach Jojo Lastimosa was called for a technical foul for pointing an accusing finger on an official.
That led to five straight points for the Stars as the Risers couldn’t buy a basket in the final minute.
