Batangas City—Inaugural champion Batangas City fought back from 16 points down before turning back powerhouse Bacoor, 87-86, in the MPBL Lakan Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Jason Melano and Jeff Viernes each produced a double-double performance late Tuesday night, propelling the Tanduay-backed Athletics to an emotional home win in a gripping match in front of a raucous crowd.
Melano came away with 20 points and 13 rebounds and completed a steal that led to the game-winning lay up at the other end for Mon Rogado to send Batangas City to its fifth win in eight games in the southern division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.
The loss was the third in 11 games for the Strikers, who dropped to third spot of the southern division of the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league in the country.
Viernes, the spitfire guard, returned to help the Athletics after missing the team’s last two games. He came back and produced a double-double of 11 points and 10 assists, but his three-point basket touched off a 14-3 wind up by Batangas City, which played the unusual role as underdog this time.
Earlier, Basilan and Imus pulled off contrasting victories to bolster their respective campaigns.
Still licking the wounds of their painful setback to Makati a few days ago, the Steel unveiled their most productive game of the season in giving the Navotas Clutch a sound beating, 113-94.
The 113 points was the franchise’s best for Basilan, which also shot a high 60-percent shooting from the field (48-of-79) and drew 78 points from inside the shaded area, 44 more than its counterpart.
The Steel’s bench also proved to be more superior as their shock troopers outplayed their rivals, 63-45.
Imus edged Nueva Ecija, 75-73, in the other game as Jayjay Helterbrand hit three of four free throws down the stretch that bailed the Bandera out of trouble and propelled the team to its third win in nine games.
