MANILA – Mark Tallo took over for Bacolod-Masters Sardines in the endgame to score an 87-83 win over Mindoro Tamaraws in the 2019-2020 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Cup on Monday at the San Andres Gym in Manila.
Battling cramps, Tallo came up with a layup to tie the score at 83-all before surging Bacolod ahead at 85-83 with another inside hit and sealing the victory with an inside jumper.
Tallo finished the match with 31 points, four rebounds, six assists, and six steals for the Bacolodnons while Jopher Custodio and Louie Medalla also chimed in 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Bacolod actually had a flat start and were down 2-12 early in the opening quarter before making a run in the second period behind Tallo and Custodio to force a 48-48 halftime score.
Bacolod got it going in the third period where they led by as much as 68-60 on outside hits by John Cauilan but the Tamaraws made its move in the fourth and was able to build an 83-79 edge late in the fourth.
Marnel Baracael finished with 23 points to go along with 11 rebounds, while Joseph Brutas added 21 markers, including five three-point conversions, for the debuting Tamaraws.
In the second game, Manila Stars cruised to its second straight victory after taking down Nueva Ecija Miguard, 96-86. Carlo Lastimosa top-scored with 20 points, while Chris Bitoon tallied 18 points for the Stars./PN
