MANILA – Batangas City Embassy Chill put on the clamps on Iloilo United Royals-Cocolife in the second half to score a 78-55 victory in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League on Monday night at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Jeckster Apinan was named as the Player of the Game after tallying double-double 10 points and 13 rebounds to go with four steals and three assists as Batangas recorded its third win in as many matches.
“Palaging sinasabi sa amin ni coach na sipagan lang namin sa depensa at mananalo kami,” said the Roxas City, Capiz-native Apinan. “Trinatrabaho din namin sa practice ‘yung defense namin.”
Rhaffy Octobre led the way for the Embassy Chill with 14 points, with 10 in the opening half, while MJ Dela Virgen chipped in 13 markers, including back-to-back three-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Iloilo had a strong start as they surged to a 13-7 lead behind Genmar Bragais and Noah Korovesi but Batangas relied on connections by King Importante and Octobre to tie the score at 20-all.
The United Royals went ahead anew in the second quarter at 40-34 behind consecutive points by Bragais but Batangas answered with five straight points from Octobre and a layup by Carlos Isit to take a 41-40 lead at the half.
Batangas tightened its defense in the third as they surged to a 58-47 lead behind Rudy Lingganay, Apinan and Isit before Iloilo managed to trim it to 50-58 on free throws by Ilonggo Jhon Rey Sumido.
Iloilo struggled anew to start the final quarter as Batangas cruised to a 71-50 lead behind eight straight points by Dela Virgen and an inside hit by Apinan before it later reached its largest at 77-52 on a Octobre basket.
Bragais was the lone double-digit scorer for the United Royals with 11 points, all in the first half, while Neil Tolentino and John Flores chipped in 13 markers before going silent in the second half.
The United Royals, now with 0-3 win-loss record, will hope to finally enter the win column when they battle powerhouse San Juan Knights on April 3 at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City.
BOX SCORE:
BATANGAS 78 – Octobre 14, Dela Virgen 13, Apinan 10, Isit 9, Villanueva 8, Importante 6, M. Cruz 6, Lingganay 4, Ambulodto 4, Ochea 3, Hernandez 1.
ILOILO 55 – Bragais 11, Tolentino 7, J. Flores 6, Basco 5, Lucero 5, Korovesi 5, Larupay 4, Sumido 4, S. Flores 3, Guion 3, Lee 2, Javelosa 0, Arambulo 0.
Quarterscores: 20-20, 41-40, 58-50, 78-55./PN
