MANILA – Valandre Chauca scored a go-ahead three-point play as Bacolod City of Smiles prevailed over Muntinlupa Cagers, 73-72, in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League on Monday night at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Down 70-72 after a dunk by Muntinlupa’s Kemark Carino, Chauca attacked the Cagers’ defense and scored a three-point play to give Bacolod City a 73-72 advantage with six seconds left.
The Cagers still had a chance to score a come-from-behind victory but Manuel Mosqueda misfired with his three-point attempt after being defended well by Bacolod City’s Alfred Sedillo.
Chauca finished with 10 points, including a three-point conversion, to go with four assists, two rebounds and a steal as Bacolod City snapped its five-game losing skid to improve to 4-8 win-loss slate.
Domark Matillano led the way with 20 points, including three three-point connections, to be hailed as the Player of the Game, while James Mangahas added 10 markers for Bacolod City.
Bacolod City surged to a 13-2 start behind conversions from Coy Alves, Mangahas and Matillano. Muntinlupa City rallied to within 11-13 but baskets from Matillano and Alves increased Bacolod City’s advantage to 19-11.
Muntinlupa City opened the second quarter with consecutive points to trim the deficit to 19-22 but Bacolod City answered back with triples from Chris Menguez, John Cantimbuhan and Mangahas to establish a 42-25 halftime lead.
Bacolod City were still ahead at 45-29 early in the third quarter after a three-point play by Matillano but Muntinlupa City responded with a huge rally to cut the deficit to 59-56 entering the final quarter.
Muntinlupa City continued its run in the fourth as they took a 63-59 lead after a triple by Chester Melencio but Bacolod City regained the edge at 64-63 after a triple by Chauca and a two-pointer from Sedillo.
The Cagers pulled away at 70-66 after a three-point connection from Camillus Altamirano but Bacolod City got back-to-back conversions from Chauca and Sedillo to tie the score at 70-all.
Melencio led the way for the Cagers with 19 points to go with five rebounds and two assists, while John Cedrick Abis added 12 markers as the Cagers dropped to 6-5 win-loss slate.
BOX SCORE:
BACOLOD 73 – Matillano 20, J. Mangahas 10, Chauca 10, Cantimbuhan 7, Alves 6, Koga 6, Sedillo 6, Menguez 5, Pabilona 2, Sarangay 1, Stevens 0, Alano 0.
MUNTINLUPA 72 – Melencio 19, Abis 12, Ortuoste 7, Carino 7, Mosqueda 6, Altamirano 5, Moralde 4, Saitanan 4, Delos Santos 4, Amores 2, Ruaya 2, Ylagan 0, Destacamento 0, Mangalino 0.
Quarterscores: 19-11, 42-25, 59-56, 73-72./PN
