MANILA – Batangas City Athletics Tanduay leaned on a strong fourth quarter showing to score a 79-70 win over Muntinlupa Cagers Angelis Resort in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Cup over the weekend at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Jeff Viernes spearheaded the attack with 25 points, including the six of the team’s last eight points, to go along with four rebounds and three steals to hand the Athletics a winning start.
Jason Melano and Hezzy Val Acuna came up with valuable contributions with the former finishing with 16 points and the latter ending with 13 markers for the Athletics, which is now being handled by Goldwyn Monteverde.
The Athletics have a hard time keeping in step with the Cagers early in the match with John Ylagan doing the damage but the former slowly got itself back into the game before engaging its foe to a tight battle.
The Athletics tightened its defense in the fourth quarter as it limited the Cagers to just 13 points before leaning on Viernes’ exploits in the endgame to emerge victorious.
In the other game, Marlon Monte saved the day for Nueva Ecija MiGuard by scoring the crucial baskets to help beat the Marikina Shoemasters, 78-76.
Monte scored four of Nueva Ecija’s last 6 points to thwart the Shoemasters after the two teams figured in a close battle in the fourth quarter. He finished with 19 markers for MiGuard./PN
