Voyagers turn back Patriots

The Pasay Voyagers continued to make heads turn in the ongoing MPBL Lakan Season and on Tuesday night, they claimed another victim in the Parañaque Patriots, whom they beat soundly, 79-60, at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Dhon Reverente had a monstrous game anew, coming away with yet another double-double performance for the Voyagers, who picked up their sixth consecutive win and improved their win-loss record to 9-5.

Reverente, one of the key additions of the squad in the off season, tallied 15 points and 14 rebounds and typified the Voyagers’ domination of the Patriots.

The Voyagers’ latest win allowed the team to firm up its grip on the sixth spot in the tough northern division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

Reverente was solid on both ends of the court, but offensively it was Elmar Moradas who led the way in the team’s scoring parade.         

Moradas finished with 17 markers. Jaypee Belencion also tallied 15, Axel Inigo scored 12, while Raymond Ilagan contributed 10 for Pasay, which shot a steady 12-of-24 shooting from beyond the arc (50-percent).

Earlier, Bulacan and Makati pulled off contrasting wins to boost their respective chances in second phase of the elimination round of the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league.

The Kuyas of Bulacan had to go through two overtime periods before outlasting the Navotas Clutch, 106-105.

Kerwin McCoy and his boys had yet to lose a game together as they extended their winning run to three and improved their win-loss mark to 8-5. But McCoy and his troops had to rely on a big break which went their way when a foul was whistled on Jhong Bondoc during a baseline inbound play with only six-tenths of a second left.

JR Alabanza sank two pressure-packed free throws that sealed the win for the Kuyas.

Makati bucked a slow start before whipping Marikina, 85-70.