Pasig MCW Sports fended off Bataan’s final assault to prevail, 70-67, on Saturday and bolster its playoff bid in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika PIlipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga City.
The Bataan Risers bunched seven points to threaten at 67-69, but Ryan Paule Costelo canned his second free throw with 12 seconds left to preserve Pasig’s 13th win against 7 losses.
Bataan had one final chance to force overtime, but Yves Sazon missed his triple attempt with only 2 ticks to go, plunging the Risers’ record to 7-12.
Belying his 5-foot-5 frame, Costelo posted 18 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists to earn best player honors. The former San Sebastian Stag was supported by Michael Maestre with 12 points okys 4 rebounds, Kenny Roger Rocacurva with 9 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists plus 3 blocks, and Jason Ballesteros with 14 rebounds to go with 6 points and 3 blocks.
Bataan, which trailed, 47-60, early in the foruth quarter, got 15 points from Robbi Darang and 11 from Sazon.
Earlier games, saw Caloocan subdue Imus, 80-71, and Quezon Province dump Pasay, 64-49.
Caloocan rose to 14-5 through Ervin Palencia, Gabby Espinas and Reil Cervantes.
Espinas wound up with 14 points and 10 rebounds, Palencia finished with 14 points, 4 assists, plus 3 rebounds and Cervantes ended up with 13 points plus 7 rebounds.
Imus skidded to 7-11 despite the 28-point, 8-rebound, 3-assist effort of Jimboy Estrada and the 14-point, 13-rebound, 3-assist, 2-steal output of Jaymar Gimpayan.
The Quezon Huskers clustered 24 points, the last 11 by RJ Minerva in the second quarter, to surge ahead, 35-24, and cruise to their 13th win against 5 losses.
Minerva tallied 13 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, plus 2 steals, followed by Alfrancis Tamsi with 13 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds, Ximone Sandagon with 11 points plus 6 rebounds, and Lucena City Mayor Mark Alcala with 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
Not one Pasay player was able to score twin digits, pulling the Voyagers down to the season-low output and a 12-7 card.
The MPBL returns to the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City on Monday with a triple bill pitting Paranaque against Zamboanga at 4 p.m., Valenzuela against Muntinlupa at 6 p.m., and Bacoor against Nueva Ecija at 8 p.m.
