MANILA – Iloilo United Royals-Cocolife’s fourth quarter uprising fell short as they suffered a 61-58 defeat to Imus SV Squad in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League on Wednesday night at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Down by as much as 20 points and were behind 43-59 early in the fourth period, the United Royals got back-to-back baskets from Justine Sanchez and Conrad Catapusan and two free throws from Joshua Flores to cut the deficit to 49-59.
Imus managed to increase it to 60-49 via a split free throw by Joseph Penaredondo but two baskets by JR Ongteco, a layup by Catapusan and a triple by Tony Ynot cut the deficit to 58-60 with under two minutes left.
The United Royals had multiple chances to tie the score but Ynot missed on his two layup attempts before Imus increased the advantage to 61-58 via a split free throw from Mark Cardona.
The United Royals still had a final opportunity to send the game into overtime but Ynot once again misfired his three-point try while Sanchez was unable to score on a rebound at the buzzer.
Carlo Lastimosa top-scored with 15 points to go with three rebounds and an assist, while Jaymar Gimpayan had double-double 10 points and 16 rebounds as Imus improved to 5-7 win-loss slate.
Ynot finished on top for the Iloilo City-based squad with 12 points, on 1-of-8 shooting from three-point area, to go with nine rebounds, while Catapusan added 11 markers as they fell to 5-8.
United Royals’ newcomers Andrey Armenion and Edsel Mag-isa struggled with just five points apiece, while Vince Tolentino was held scoreless in almost 10 minutes of playing time.
“I am disappointed with our slow start against Imus. I believe that we have a chance to win the game if we did not trail by that much in the first half,” said United Royals president JJ Javelosa.
The United Royals, now on a three-game losing skid, will hope to return to their winning ways when they face Bacoor City Strikers at eight in the evening on June 13 at STRIKE Gym in Cavite./PN
BOX SCORE:
IMUS 61 – Lastimosa 15, Gimpayan 10, Cardona 8, Lopez 7, Estrada 6, Faundo 4, Penaredondo 4, Actub 3, Cani 2, Galang 2, Alabanza 0, Guillen 0, Hayes 0, Canaleta 0.
ILOILO 58 – Ynot 12, Catapusan 11, Sanchez 8, Ongteco 8, J. Flores 6, Armenion 5, Mag-isa 5, Larupay 2, Basco 1, Sumido 0, Guion 0, Navarro 0, N. Tolentino 0, V. Tolentino 0.
Quarterscores: 21-13, 36-20, 52-39, 61-58.
