MANILA – Conrad Catapusan carried the scoring cudgels for Iloilo United Royals-Cocolife in the fourth quarter to score a come-from-behind 86-79 win over Oriental Mindoro Disiplinados in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League on Monday night at the STRIKE Gymnasium in Bacoor, Cavite.
Down 59-67 early in the fourth quarter, Catapusan unloaded six consecutive points followed by a three-pointer by newcomer Tony Ynot and another basket from Catapusan to give Iloilo a 70-69 advantage.
The Disiplinados managed to take the lead at 72-70 and 74-73 behind baskets by Bernabe Teodoro but Ynot unloaded five straight points to give Iloilo an 81-77 lead with 33 seconds remaining in the contest.
Catapusan finished the game with 14 points, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter, to go with five rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block as the United Royals notched its first victory in five matches.
Joshua Flores top-scored for the United Royals with 17 points, including two outside connections, while Lorenzo Navarro chipped in 13 points, while Jeffrey Ongteco and Ynot had nine and eight markers, respectively.
The United Royals were blazing to start the game behind three-point hits by Flores and Michael Jay Javelosa for a 17-8 lead. The Disiplinados cut it to 16-19 but connections from Neil Tolentino and Marlon Basco widened Iloilo’s lead to 25-17.
The United Royals maintained the double-digit edge in the second quarter at 39-29 after a basket by Aldeo Lucero but Disiplinados rallied to within 40-41 but back-to-back triples by Navarro gave Iloilo a 47-40 halftime lead.
The Disiplinados, however, had their best quarter of the contest in the third with Sherwin Concepcion connecting his outside shots as they snatched the lead at 67-59 early in the fourth.
Teodoro led the way with 16 points, with two three-point baskets, while Concepcion and Marvel Jimenez added 15 markers apiece as the Disiplinados suffered their sixth loss in as many games.
The United Royals will shoot for their second straight victory when it faces Bicol Volcanoes (0-5) at four in the afternoon on Saturday, April 22, at the Bataan People’s Center.
BOX SCORE:
ILOILO 86 — J. Flores 17, Catapusan 14, Navarro 13, Ongteco 9, Ynot 8, Basco 7, Jimenez 6, Sanchez 5, Javelosa 3, Lucero 2, Korovesi 2, Madrigal 0, Sumido 0, Guion 0, Arambulo 0.
ORIENTAL MINDORO 79 — Teodoro 16, Jimenez 15, Concepcion 15, Miranda 9, Hernandez 9, Tolentino 7, Osicos 4, Baltazar 2, Gines 2, Montero 0.
Quarterscores: 25-17, 47-40, 59-65, 86-79./PN
