MANILA – Iloilo United Royals cruised to its third straight win in the 2019-2020 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League – Lakan Cup with a 79-65 win over Pasig-Sta. Lucia Realtors at the Makati Coliseum.
Al Francis Tamsi top-scored with 26 points, including six triples on Monday night while Richard Escoto chipped in double-double 18 points and 14 rebounds.
With the win, the Royals improved to a 12-8 slate.
The Royals got their outside hits to fall early and surged to a 28-20 edge. The Realtors rallied to within 33-34 but back-to-back triples from Escoto and Tamsi gave Iloilo a 41-33 halftime edge.
After the Royals built a double-digit edge early in the third, the Realtors tried to cut it several times. Three pointers by Tamsi, however, extend Iloilo’s edge to 61-45.
The Realtors made its last push by cutting the deficit to 10 points but the Royals went for the kill with baskets from Tamsi as the lead reached its largest at 79-62 on a basket by Jasper Parker.
Robbie Manalang finished with 16 points, while former PBA players Leomar Najorda and Josan Nimes added 15 markers each as the Realtors dropped to 13-8./PN
