JOJO Lastimosa’s coaching debut in the commercial league proved to be a big hit as NLEX-SCTEX rewarded him with a huge 90-74 beat down of Hobe Bihon in the opening game of the Marikina City Basketball League at the Marikina Sports Center over the weekend.
Ex-pros Byron Villarias and Dexter Apinan provided the support needed by import Ola Adeogun as NLEX-SCTEX made a huge impression in MCBL’s new season.
Adeogun, who led San Beda to multiple championships in the NCAA, came away with 29 points and 12 rebounds.
Villarias, cousin of Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, added 23 markers, including five triples, while Apinan contributed 12 for NLEX-SCTEX.
Hobe also banked on its own set of PBA players led by Ronjay Buenafe, who fired in 21 points, while Eric dela Cuesta, cousin of Lastimosa, chipped in 16 markers for the Braulio Lim-mentored squad.
Buenafe kept Hobe in the thick of the fight as his three-point play shoved his team to within a basket, 65-63, but Adeogun and Villarias conspired in a blistering 13-1 run that enabled NLEX-SCTEX to pull away for good, 78-64, halfway in the fourth period.