Weavers win for home crowd in MPBL's first game in Abra
Weavers win for home crowd in MPBL's first game in Abra
HOME team Abra hit its stride in the fourth quarter to subdue Rizal Xentromall, 74-63, Saturday in the MPBL's (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) first visit to the province at the jam-packed Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium inside University of Abra in Bangued.
Trailing, 58-59, the Weavers poured 14 points behind Roi Sumang while limiting the Golden Coolers to just two to break away and register their fifth straight victory that put them in a tie with their victims at 8-5.
Abra's Roi Sumang
PHOTO: MPBL
Sumang fired eight points, built on two triples, in that decisive run and finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Playing their first game for Abra, Mark Yee and Joseph Sedurifa also delivered the goods, with the former tallying 10 points and 11 rebounds plus three assists and the latter notching 13 points and three rebounds plus two steals.
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Jeepy Faundo also contributed nine points, six rebounds, three blocks, and two steals for the Weavers who made sure that team owner Mayor JB Bernos and his wife Cong. Ching had reason to cheer alongside the loud crowd that filled the venue to the rafters
The Golden Coolers got 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals from Alwyn Alday; 13 points, four rebounds, and five assists from Kraniel Viloria, and 10 points each from Marco Balagtas and Keith Agovida.
Nueva Ecija back to joint first
Nueva Ecija then thwarted Paranaque for a 90-79 decision to remain unbeaten after 11 starts and join the Quezon Huskers at the helm.
The Rice Vanguards led by as far as 71-53 behind Will McAloney, Billy Ray Robles, Byron Villarias, and Chris Bitoon.
McAloney wound up with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while Robles had a double-double 14 points and 11 rebounds plus five assists. Villarias, back from injury, chalked 14 points, while Bitoon chipped in 11 points, four assists, and two steals.
The Patriots slid to 8-5 despite the 21-point, 16-rebound effort of John Uduba; the 13-point, 2-rebound, 2-assist output of JP Sarao; and the 10-point, 6-assist, 5-rebound, and 2-steal contribution of Jielo Razon.
Meanwhile, Marikina bested Bataan, 80-72, in the opener.
Riding Eric Joseph Pili's long-range shooting, the Shoemasters improved to 3-10 while pulling down the Risers to 4-9.
Pili - a 6-foot-3 forward from Benilde - tallied 25 points, including five triples, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists. He was supported by Joe Gomez de Liano with 12 points, nine rebounds, and two assists; Sidney Mosqueda with 11 points and four steals; and homegrown players Jethro Escoto and Jomel Landayan who combined for 21 points.
Bataan got 15 points and eight rebounds from Mitchelle Maynes, 10 points plus 11 rebounds from Jamil Gabawan, and 12 points from Yves Sazon.
The MPBL returns to the Alonte Sports Arena on Monday with another triple bill pitting Bacolod against Pangasinan at 4 p.m., Muntinlupa against San Juan at 6 p.m., and Binan against Bulacan at 8 p.m.