Once in the cellar, the Cebu City Sharks are now on the attack mode and they’ve showed that in their last four games capped by their latest win over tournament favorite Muntinlupa Cagers Saturday night at the Marist School Gymnasium in Marikina City.
Led by Patrick Cabahug, who knocked in 14 of his 17 points in the second half, the Casino Ethyl Alcohol-backed Sharks shocked the Muntinlupa Cagers, 80-73, in the MPBL Datu Cup.
It was the fourth straight victory for the Sharks, who improved their win-loss record to 10-11 and firmed up its hold of seventh place in the southern division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.
Several players were able to step up for the Sharks as well – Jaybie Mantilla, Edrian Lao and Harold Cortes, who all tallied double-digit outputs.
Mantilla contributed 15, Lao chipped in 14 and Cortes had 10 in a display of balance firepower by Cebu.
The loss was the sixth in 18 games for the Angelis Resort-supported Cagers, who remained in second spot of the southern division, but is now only two and a half games behind their closest pursuer, the Batangas City Athletics-Tanduay, the inaugural staging champion of the MPBL.
Davao Occidental thwarted Marikina, 80-68, to fortify its hold of the solo lead down south.
Leo Najorda had a double-double effort of 22 points and 12 boards to power the Cocolife-sponsored squad to their 16th win in 20 games.
Marikina fell to 7-12 as the team still remains in 11th spot. With still six games left, the Shoemasters will need to win as many games as possible to catch the last bus to the playoffs.