Iloilo clamped down on South Cotabato in the third quarter then rev up its offense in the fourth to tally an 89-83 victory on Wednesday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Trailing by as far as 30-49, the Iloilo United Royals held the South Cotabato Warriors to four points while coming through with 16 to move ahead, 64-63, after the third quarter.
Powered by Gwyne Capacio, Mark Nonoy, CJ Catapusan and CJ Cansino, Iloilo overcame the 11-point explosion of Christian Fajarito in the fourth quarter to post its third straight win and rise to 5-7 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Cansino wound up with 21 points, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks, while Capacio finished with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Nonoy ended up with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, RV Berjay contributed 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks while Clint Doliguez chipped in 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals for Iloilo Coach Mac Abolucion.
South Cotabato saw its 7-game winning streak broken and skidded to 9-4 despite the 23-point, 8-rebound, 5-assist, 2-steal effort of Enzo Joson and the 20-point, 10-rebound output of Fajaffito. Jammer Jamito also posted a double-double of 15 points, 12 rebounds plus 4 assists.
Earlier, Bicolandia finally scored its first win after 12 defeats at the expense of Bacolod City of Smiles, 62-61.
Raffy Reyes canned three free throws and Ralph Deles made the second of his two charities to give Bicolandia ahead, 62-60, with 6.2 seconds to go.
Bacolod’s LA Casinilio then made a charity off a technical foul for the final count that pulled down the Bacolenos to 1-12.
Chris Javier led Bicol with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists while Ralph Deles carded 12 points and 10 rebounds. Homegrown Cyrus Llarena and Raffy Reyes chipped in 10 points each.
Bacolod got 19 points and 6 rebounds from Danny Marilao and 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals from Casinilio.
The MPBL goes to the Caloocan Sports Complex on Thursday with Manila battling Imus at 4 p.m., Sarangani tackling Zamboanga at 6 p.m. and Quezon tangling with Caloocan at 8 p.m.
Caption: Gwynne Capacio delivers for Iloilo United Royals.
