By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – Bacolod City of Smiles finally entered the win-column of the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League via a 93-82 victory over Bicol Volcanoes on Saturday at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum.
Homegrown player Domark Matillano led the way with 17 points, including three three-point connections, to go with three rebounds, three assists and two steals as Bacolod hiked its record to 1-2.
John Cantimbuhan, Justin Alano and Ryusei Koga chipped in 13 markers apiece, while James Mangahas and Mac Montilla also contributed 12 and 10 markers, respectively, for Bacolod.
Bacolod went on a 6-0 start via back-to-back triples by Mangahas and Matillano but Bicol quickly kept the score close before surging ahead at 14-10. Bacolod leaned on late hits by Cantimbuhan and Alfred Sedillo to cut the deficit to 17-19.
The Volcanoes were still ahead early in the second quarter at 25-21 but Bacolod got baskets from Cantimbuhan, Jaymam Pabilona and Coy Alves for a 29-25 edge before pulling away to 44-32 at the half.
Bacolod continued its hot shooting in the third quarter behind Matillano and Mangahas as the lead reached its largest at 75-50 via a triple by Koga and inside connections by Allan Mangahas.
The Bacolodnons maintained the 20-point margin in the fourth quarter with inside baskets by Alano and triples by Montilla before Bicol made a late run to cut the deficit to as low as 11 points.
“Pinag usapan namin ‘yung mga naging pagkakamali namin in our last two games at trinabaho namin para ma-improve,” Cantimbuhan said. “Hopefully, this will signal the start of a winning streak for us.”
James Martinez flirted with triple-double with 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, Wowie Escosio added 17 markers, while Ilonggo Peejay Barua and Raymark Matias had 10 points each as the Volcanoes remained winless in three games.
Bacolod City of Smiles will have a weeklong break before resuming action against 1Bataan Risers at six in the evening on April 1, Saturday, at the Quezon Convention Center./PN
DLSU repeats over NU, stays unbeaten in UAAP women’s volley
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – De La Salle University Lady Spikers renewed its mastery of the National University Lady Bulldogs with a 26-24, 26-24, 25-16 sweep in UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball on Saturday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Bacolodnon Angel Canino led the way with 15 points built on 13 attacks, while Jolina Dela Cruz delivered 12 points, including match-best three blocks, and nine excellent receptions as the Lady Spikers remained spotless with 8-0 mark.
Lady Bulldogs’ Sheena Toring and Vange Alinsug forced a deuce in the first set, 24-all, but Lady Spikers’ Mereophe Sharma found the end line on her quick before Canino capped it with a service ace as DLSU took the first set.
Canino came through again in the extended second frame with a through-the-block kill before the Lady Bulldogs committed a costly error to give the Lady Spikers the 2-0 set edge.
The Lady Spikers, which finally had head coach Ramil de Jesus back on the bench, went on a strong start in the third set, cruising to an 18-9 advantage and never looked back.
“Medyo may ginawa silang adjustment, yun nga yung sabi namin na maging ready kayo sa gagawing adjustment ng NU kasi hindi naman ganon kadali para ibigay ulit sa atin ng ganon kabilis yung laro,” said DLSU assistant coach Noel Orcullo.
Mhicaela Belen made 17 points, all on attacks, while Alinsug tallied 14 points on 12 spikes and two blocks to go with seven excellent receptions as the Lady Bulldogs dropped to 5-3 record.
Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, meanwhile, notched its first winning streak in with a 25-16, 25-23, 22-25, 25-19 beating of the still winless University of the East Lady Warriors.
Faith Nisperos was solid in net defense with five blocks to go with her 13 attacks to end with 18 points for the Blue Eagles, which scored its second straight victory for a 3-5 win-loss slate.
In other result, Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws (4-4) swept University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons (1-7), 25-22, 25-19, 25-20, while Adamson University Lady Falcons (6-2) edged University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses (5-3), 11-25, 25-21, 25-13, 25-22./PN
