MANILA – Andrey Armenion converted a go-ahead basket as Valenzuela Classics VACARGO scored an 86-85 upset over Pasay Voyagers in the 2024 MPBL season on Monday night at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan.
Down 84-85 after a basket by Voyagers’ Warren Bonifacio, the Classics had two chances to take the lead before becoming successful on a jump shot by Armenion with 0.6 seconds left.
Calvin Payawal led the way for the Classics with 20 points; Darell Manliguez finished with a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds; and Christian De Chavez ended with 11. They improved to a 7-6 win-loss slate.
“Medyo hindi maganda ‘yung start namin this game, siguro hindi maganda ‘yung execution namin ng bola and ‘yung placing namin,” said Manliguez, who was named Player of the Game.
“Sinulit lang namin ‘yung sistema ni coach at hinigpitan namin ‘yung depensa namin kaya nakabalik kami sa larong ito,” he added. “Makakadagdag din ito sa kumpiyansa ng team heading into our next games.”
Laurenz Victoria top-scored for the Voyagers with 22 points; Bonifacio ended with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Alejandro Iñigo and AJ Coronel contributed 15 and 14, respectively. They dropped to 7–5.
Meanwhile, Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers got their acts together in the third overtime to pull off a 104-100 victory against the erstwhile undefeated San Juan Knights-Go for Gold.
After clawing back from 15 points down in the regulation, the Golden Coolers failed to complete their upset over the Knights until the 3rd OT, where they got early hits from Jerie Pingoy, Alwyn Alday, and Bacolodnon Kraniel Villoria for a 101-96 lead.
The Knights threatened to within 100-102 on back-to-back hits from Michael Calisaan and Dexter Maiquez and still had a chance to tie the game, but Maiquez misfired on his two free throws. Alday sealed the win for Rizal with two free throws.
Alday led the way for the Golden Coolers with 27 points, Villoria chipped in a double-double of 24 points and 10 assists, while Keith Agovida, Pingoy, and Marco Balagtas had 18, 12, and 11, respectively, as they improved to an 8-4 win-loss slate.
Meanwhile, the Marikina Shoemasters (2-10) snapped their losing streak as they defeated the Bulacan Kuyas (1-11), 95-91. Joe Gomez de Liano tallied 26 points to earn Player of the Game honors (9-0)./PN
