The Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters thwarted the Pangasinan Heatwaves’ final assault to prevail, 71-64, on Saturday and regained traction in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Pangasinan.
Powered by Cedric Ablaza, Juneric Baloria and Levi Hernandez, the Rum Masters surged ahead, 64-50, in the fourth quarter en route to their 13th win against 6 losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Pangasinan countered with a nine-point cluster to move closer, 59-64, but Hernandez scored to break the spell and pull down the Heatwaves to 7-13.
Baloria wound up with 16 points, including 3 triples, and 5 rebounds for Batangas, which rebounded from a 69-83 beating it suffered against San Juan on July 18.
Ablaza finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals, followed by Jeckster Apinan with 10 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, and Dawn Ochea with 10 points plus 4 rebounds.
Pangasinan got 11 points each from Michael Mabulac and John Paul Maguilano and 10 points, all in the fourth quarter, from Ian Melencio
Other games saw Binan Tatak Gel trounce Negros, 91-72, and Bataan tame Mindoro, 103-96.
Kenny Roger Rocacurva posted 22 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists to lead Binan to an 11-7 card.
Other Binan players who delivered were Jonathan Grey with 14 points, Pamboy Ramundo and Jeric James Pido with 11 each, Nino Canaleta with 10 points plus 9 rebounds and Marc Pingris with 6 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals.
Ahead by as many as 20 points, 71-51, Binan relegated Negros to 9-12.
Negros got 12 points each from John Rey Villanueva and Renz Palma, and 11 points from Buenaventura Raflores.
The Bataan checked a four-game slide and improved to 5-14 behind Robbi Marion Darang’s 24 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. He was supported by Yves Sazon with 19 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds, Rhaffy Octobre with 17 points plus 6 rebounds, Mitchelle Maynes with 13 points, 13 rebounds, plus 3 assists, and Jeff Santos with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
Mindoro suffered its third straight defeat and tumbled to 5-11 despite the 25-point, 13-assist, 12-rebound, 2-steal, and 1-block effort of John Jerrick Caspe.
The MPBL returns to the FilOIl Ecooil Centre in San Juan on Monday with a triple bill pitting Rizal against Sarangani at 4 p.m., Pampanga against Zamboanga at 6 p.m., and Davao against San Juan at 8 p.m.
Caption: Kenny Roger Rocacurva delivers for Binan.
