BATANGAS CITY—Batangas City went through some anxious moments before surviving Valenzuela, even as Paranaque continued to peak at the right time to dump Muntinlupa at the start of their MPBL-Anta Rajah Cup at the Batangas City Coliseum here.
The Tanduay-backed Athletics blew hot and cold in Game 1 of their best-of-three semis series against the Classic-Yulz before ekeing out an 80-75 win and moved a win away from securing a finals berth.
It was a highly-physical, grueling encounter as three players—Jayson Grimaldo of Batangas City and his teammate Adrian Santos and Ford Ruaya of Valenzuela got ejected.
Grimaldo and Ruaya grappled at each other while fighting for the loose ball and things nearly went out of hand.
Santos rushed inside the court to come to the aid of his teammate and was penalized in the process.
All three players were ejected from the game and will serve a one-game suspension starting in Game 2 to be held at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex.
The Parañaque Patriots, showing they’re peaking at the right time, easily disposed of the Muntinlupa Cagers, 84-59, in the other game.
The Gamboa Coffee-backed Patriots blasted the Angelis Resort-backed Cagers with a torrid shooting in the first half and solid defensive game plan.
With its excellent shooting in full display, Parañaque was able to break the game wide open in the first 20 minutes of play. The team shot a fantastic 63-percent from the field, including 8-of-11 treys in the first half.
On defense, the Patriots also worked double time as they held their rivals to just 26-percent shooting in the first half (9-of-34).
The Patriots padded their lead to as many as 25 points, 80-55, in the closing minutes of the fourth period.