MANILA – Bacolod City of Smiles saw its winning streak snapped after a lopsided 105-74 loss to Batangas City Embassy Chill in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League on Tuesday at the STRIKE Gym in Bacoor, Cavite.
With the defeat, Bacolod City dropped to ninth place in the Southern Division standings with a 9-13 win-loss slate, while Batangas City remained on top of the division with a 17-4 record.
Bacolod City cruised to a 13-7 start behind conversions by John Cantimbuhan and Christopher Menguez but Batangas City answered with five straight points to cut the deficit to 12-13.
The Bacolodnons managed to pull away at 21-15 on four straight points from Coy Alves but Batangas City clawed its way back to tie the score at 24-all before Regie Boy Basibas surged Bacolod City ahead 25-24 to end the first quarter.
But that proved to be the Bacolodnon’s last hurrah as Batangas City started strong in the second quarter behind Juneric Baloria and Jeckster Apinan to take a 38-33 lead, which later grew to 55-33 at the half behind consecutive points by Mark Dela Virgen.
Batangas City continued its rampage in the third quarter as baskets from Levi Hernandez and John Ambulodto allowed them to establish a 73-50 with under a minute left in the period.
Bacolod City opened the fourth period with consecutive shots but Batangas City had quick answers from John Rey Villanueva and Lingganay to pad the lead further to its biggest at 34 points.
Baloria led the way for Batangas City with 20 points, Dela Virgen chipped in 17 markers, while Apinan, Rhaffy Octobre, Hernandez and Villanueva had 13, 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Menguez had his best game for Bacolod City as he top-scored with 15 points to go with six rebounds, while Domark Matillano and Andretti Stevens added 14 and 10 markers, respectively.
The Bacolod City of Smiles will look to bounce back as they face Bacoor City Strikers at six in the evening on August 7 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City as they hope to salvage their playoffs hopes./PN
BOX SCORE:
BATANGAS 105 – Baloria 20, Dela Virgen 17, Apinan 13, Octobre 12, Hernandez 11, Villanueva 10, Ochea 6, Lingganay 5, Arim 4, Ambulodto 3, Cruz 2, Importante 2, Isit 0, Alarcon 0.
BACOLOD 74 – Menguez 15, Matillano 14, Stevens 10, Sarangay 8, Cantimbuhan 7, Alves 6, Sedillo 4, Basibas 4, Koga 3, Chauca 3, Magbanua 0, Alano 0.
Quarterscores: 24-25, 55-33, 73-51, 105-74.
