Manila – Iloilo United Royals nearly wasted a double-digit edge before escaping with a 77-74 win over Bicol Volcanoes in the 2019-2020 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League on Sunday at Ibalong Centrum for Recreation in Legaspi City, Albay.
Richard Escoto broke his scoring slump with 21 points to go along with eight rebounds and two assists as the Royals snapped its two-game losing skid to improve to 4-3 win-loss record.
Rodel de Leon added 17 markers and eight boards, while Cedric de Joya got his offense going early in the game to finish with 12 points and Al Francis Tamsi had nine for the Royals.
The Royals surged to a 19-11 edge in the opening period with De Leon and Tamsi spearheading the offense. It grew to 44-33 at the half with De Joya getting his outside shots going.
The Royals went on to build its largest lead at 51-38 after a three-pointer by Donald Gumaru in the third period but the Volcanoes slowly chipped in to the deficit to come to within 54-60.
The Volcanoes pulled even closer in the fourth and was able to come to as close as 74-75 after a Jonathan Aldave triple but split free throws by Escoto and De Leon iced the win for the Royals.
Aldave top-scored with 18 points, including three three-point conversions, while Ron Jason Buenafe missed all of his nine field goal attempts but still had 10 markers for the 5-3 Volcanoes./PN
