MANILA – Negros Pau Muscovados survived a fourth quarter run by Iloilo United Royals for an 82-78 victory in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League over the weekend at the Baliwag Star Arena in Bulacan.
After leading by double-digits, the Muscovados found themselves down 73-75 after a triple by Iloilo’s Conrad Catapusan before they regained the advantage with 39 seconds left via a three-pointer by Jose Piero Longa and an inside hit by Bernie Bregondo.
The United Royals managed to cut the deficit to 77-78 on a layup by Tony Ynot with 24 seconds left but two free throws each from Jun Manzo and Jonathan Gantalao Jr. sealed the win for the Muscovados.
Manzo finished the game with 23 points, including four three-point conversions, to go with four assists, two steals and a rebound as the Muscovados snapped its two-game slide to improve to 6-11 win-loss slate.
Bregondo contributed double-double 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Longa ended with 12 markers, with three outside connections, to go with seven rebounds, two assists and two steals for Negros.
Catapusan tallied double-double 18 points and 11 rebounds, Ynot added 15 markers, while Joshua Flores and Jeffrey Ryan Ongteco had 14 and 10 points, respectively, for the United Royals, which dropped to 6-11.
The Muscovados will aim for their second straight victory when they face Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines on July 6, while the United Royals will try to bounce back against Sarangani Marlins on July 5.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City of Smiles failed to sustain their early lead to suffer a 72-63 defeat at the hands of Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers at the Bren Guiao Convention Center in Pampanga.
Troy Mallillin spearheaded the Golden Coolers offense with double-double 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Jonas Raphael Tibayan added 10 markers as they improved to 7-11 slate.
Domark Matillano finished with 10 points, while Coy Alves fell short of a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds as Bacolod City suffered their second defeat to drop to 6-11 record.
BOX SCORE:
NEGROS 82 – Manzo 23, Bregondo 20, Longa 12, Santillan 9, Gantalao 7, Altamirano 3, Mallari 3, Dela Cruz 3, Bartolo 2, Dionson 0, Ingles 0, Maloles 0.
ILOILO 78 – Catapusan 18, Ynot 15, Flores 14, Ongteco 10, Larupay 5, Armenion 4, Navarro 4, Sanchez 3, Nunez 3, Guion 2, Madrigal 0, Mag-isa 0, Basco 0.
Quarterscores: 20-24, 40-40, 62-51, 82-78./PN
