MANILA – Iloilo United Royals-Cocolife failed to sustain their early lead to suffer a 74-69 overtime loss to Bacoor City Strikers in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League at the STRIKE Gym in Bacoor, Cavite.
Ahead 62-54 with four minutes in the fourth quarter, Iloilo were stunned by a huge run by the Strikers behind Negrense Jhan Nermal to take a 65-62 lead on a basket by James Kwenkuteye.
The United Royals managed to tie the score at 65-all after a three-pointer by Joshua Flores with two seconds left before they put on a defensive stop on Strikers’ Kraniel Villoria to force an overtime.
In the extra period, Nermal surged the Strikers on top at 68-65 with a three-point shot. Iloilo managed to cut it to 67-68 with a basket from Justine Sanchez but two freebies by Mark Yee widened Bacoor’s lead to 70-67.
Split free throws by Michael Canete, Nermal and Aaron Jeruta with under a minute left increased Bacoor’s lead to 73-67. Marlon Basco managed to pull one back for Iloilo but Jeruta wrapped up the win for the Strikers with another free throw.
Nermal was later hailed as the Player of the Game after finishing with 24 points, including three three-point conversions, to go with 14 rebounds, three assists and a steal for the Strikers.
Kwenkuteye also hit double-digits on offense with 11 points, while Yee hauled 14 rebounds to go with seven points as Bacoor City kept its streak going as they improved to 12-2 slate.
Tony Ynot finished with 16 points, Flores added 14 markers, while Sanchez, Basco and Conrad Catapusan had 13, 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the slumping United Royals.
“It was another disappointing game,” said United Royals president JJ Javelosa. “The team were playing good in the first three quarters and until the fourth before they struggled in the last two minutes.”
The United Royals, now on a four-game losing skid with 5-9 win-loss slate, hopes to finally return to their winning ways as they face General Santos Warriors at 4 pm on June 19 in Bataan.
BOX SCORE:
BACOOR 74 – Nermal 24, Kwenkuteye 11, Yee 7, Alday 6, Lee Yu 5, Canete 5, Eguilos 4, Ludovice 4, Jeruta 2, Jamito 2, Villoria 2, Montuano 2, Pasturan 0.
ILOILO 69 – Ynot 16, J. Flores 14, Sanchez 13, Basco 12, Catapusan 11, Armenion 2, Sumido 1, Madrigal 0, Mag-isa 0, Ongteco 0, Guion 0, Korovesi 0, Larupay 0, Arambulo 0, V. Tolentino 0.
Quarterscores: 12-15, 21-29, 41-51, 65-65, 74-69./PN
