Alabel, Sarangani–Bacolod Bingo Plus held Sarangani to just two points in the last five minutes and won pulling away,89-74, late Friday in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme at the Sarangani Capitol Gymnasium here.
The game was tight, 74-72, until veteran Mary Yee and Jhan Mchale Nermal bunched five points for Bacolod before Gabby Espinas could score on a lay-up with 2:52 to go.
Yee, Kraniel Villoria and Raymond Ilagan continued Bacolod’s onslaught while Sarangani went silent the rest of the way to turn the game into a rout.
Bacolod raised its record to 12-7 as Yee wound up with 20 points, 16 rebounds and 4 assists, followed by Alwyn Alday with 15 points, Villoria 13 points and Nermal 9 points plus 6 rebounds.
With YouTube sensation Kyt Jimenez limited to 9 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals, Sarangani skidded to 11-5. Paul Sanga took over the scoring chores for Sarangani with 11 points, followed by Yvan Kudovice, Enrique Caunan and Gabby Espinas with 10 each.
Quezon City MG Cars nipped Muntinlupa, 79-77, in the first game to rise to 8-8. Marlon Monte and Kentoy Segura led Quezon City with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Muntinlupa fell to 2-13 despite the 18-point, 5-rebound output of Domark Matillano and the 16-point, 7-rebound effort of Mac Montilla.
The MPBL returns to Luzon on Monday with a triple-bill at the Bren Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga. Batangas tackles Rizal at 5 p.m., Valenzuela tangles with Pasig at 7 p.m. and Bataan clashes with Pampanga at 9 p.m.