MANILA – Bacolod-Bingo Plus leaned on a strong fourth quarter rampage to defeat Manila David Roxas Construction Stars, 76-59, in the 2022 MPBL Season on Tuesday night at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Holding to a slim 49-48 lead, Bacolod started the fourth quarter strong behind baskets by Ilonggo Aaron Jeruta and Negrenses Jhan Nermal and Mark Yee for a 59-48 advantage.
The Bacolodnon continued its run with Nermal scoring back-to-back baskets and Alwyn Alday and Kraniel Viloria making their inside shots to widen the lead to 68-54.
The Stars made its last push behind baskets from Kobe Monje and Marvin Lee but counter hits from Yee and Alday gave Bacolod its largest lead at 74-55.
Nermal spearheaded the offense with 19 points, including two triples, to go with nine rebounds and four assists as Bacolod improved to 3-0 win-loss slate.
“Sinisipagan ko every game dahil nakakahiya. Si Kuya Mark (Yee) palaging go hard sa laro kaya dapat go hard din ako,” the Kabankalan City-native Nermal said.
Yee chipped in double-double 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Alday contributed 12 points, five rebounds and five steals for the streaking Bacolodnons.
“They made me more proud of them for working their asses off even during the difficult situation,” Bacolod-Bingo Plus team manager Leo Bat-Og said.
Joshua Fontanilla, Ira Spencer Bataller and Roldan Sara ended up with eight points each, while Ronnie Matias and Mark Yu contributed seven apiece for the Stars.
The Bacolod-Bingo Plus will shoot for their fourth consecutive victory when they face Marikina Shoemasters at five in the afternoon on June 4 in Manila.
BOX SCORE:
BACOLOD 76 – Nermal 19, Yee 13, Alday 12, Viloria 8, Ilagan 6, Albo 6, Cabanag 5, Lao 4, Jeruta 3, Lee Yu 0, Garcia 0, Tulipas 0, Pastias 0.
MANILA 59 — Fontanilla 8, Bataller 8, Sara 8, Yu 7, Matias 7, Lee 5, Cosejo 4, Monje 4, David 2.
Quarterscores: 18-12, 35-28, 49-48, 76-59./PN