MANILA, Philippines – The Pasay Voyagers and Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers took different routes toward victories in the 6th MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Season elimination round on Tuesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The Voyagers withstood the Iloilo United Royals’ final assault to prevail, 81-77, in the nightcap while the Rizal Golden Coolers stormed ahead in the third quarter before cruising to a 71-59 victory over Quezon City TODA Aksyon in the opener.
Ahead, 77-68, on a triple by Warren Bonifacio, the Voyagers nearly tumbled after the United Royals unloaded nine points against a free throw by Laurenz Victoria, 78-77, with still 1:12 to go.
AJ Coronel, however, came to the Voyagers’ rescue with a free throw and a lay-up that forged their fifth win in seven starts, the same card as the Golden Coolers.
Pasay gre eted the third quarter with a 10-point cluster triggered by Warren Bonifacio to pull away, 54-35, and were never headed by Iloilo, which dropped to 2-5.
Bonifacio wound up with 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists to clinch best player honors over Victoria, who pooled 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Coronel and Patrick Sleat contributed nine points each for the Voyagers.
Iloilo got 19 points and eight rebounds from Clint Doliguez; 12 points and nine rebounds from CJ Cansino; and 11 points each from CJ Catapusan and Mark Nonoy.
Rizal led by as far as 51-31 behind Alwyn Alday, who tallied 17 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. He was backed by Kraniel Victoria with 14 points, nine rebounds, six assists and five steals; and homegrown John Apacible with 11 points a nd 11 rebounds.
Quezon City dropped to 3-4 as only homegrown Rafael Are broke twin digits with 11 points. Jason Ballesteros came through with nine points plus 11 rebounds; while Jerie Pingoy pooled eight points, five rebounds and two steals.
South Cotabato weathered Negros’repeated assaults to tally an 81-74 victory in the second game and c limb to a 5-3 card.
Kyle Tolentino posted 23 points, including seven triples, eight rebounds and two assists to spearhead the Warriors, who also got a lift from Christian Fajarito with 16 points and seven rebounds; and John Wilson with 14 points and five rebounds.
The Negros Muscovados suffered their fifth straight defeat after winning their first three despite getting 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists from Renz Palma; 20 points, five rebounds and five assists from Enrique Caunan; and 13 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals from Hubert Cani.
The MPBL visits the Batangas City Coliseum on Wednesday, May 15, with games pitting Mindoro against Abra at 4 p.m., San Juan against Bicol at 6 p.m., and Davao against Batangas at 8 p.m.
MANILA, Philippines – The Palawan Pawnshop tennis series unveils two simultaneous tournaments Thursday, May 16, in Kalibo, Aklan and Ormoc City, with both Group 2 tournaments attracting significant number of participants, highlighting the strong engagement in the country’s premier junior circuit.
The Tamagos Cup tournament at the Kalibo 1 courts boasts over 200 entries, led by Sandra Bautista and Maxene Panizales, who are both competing in the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under categories. Jann Ian Ituriaga leads the boys’ field in these top two divisions.
Top contenders in the girls’ 12- and 14-and-U categories are Theriz Zapatos and Michael Suarez, while Ciaran Alipo-on, Phine Billones and Drig Escobar are set to challenge top seed Francisco de Juan III in the boys’ 12-and-U division of the event serving as part of the PPS-PEPP circuit, organized by Palawan Pawnshop under the leadership of president/CEO Bobby Castro
De Juan is also vying in the 14-and-U side, which features top ranked John Rafael Santiago, Rizzjun Labindao and Alipo-on, while Abby Castigador, Kate Chavez, Arianne Tiongko and Arielle Opoc are among the key players in the youngest 10-and-under unisex division of the event sponsored by Tamagos Confectioneries.
The Kalibo tournament, originally scheduled for last week, was moved to accommodate the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA), according to event organizer Bobby Mangunay.
Simultaneously, fierce competition is expected at the Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez tournament at the Ormoc Midtown court, with over 150 players competing for top honors and ranking points in the five-day tournament sanctioned by Philta and Universal Tennis and presented by Dunlop with support from ICON Golf and Sports.
In Ormoc, Ma. Niña Torrejos and Kate Imalay are set for intense battles in the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under divisions, while Christian Laguna leads the boys’ 16- and 18-and-U divisions, which include Renante Bravo, Jr., Gil Niere and Armik Serillo, along with Gerald Gemida, John Lambating and Bert Manlimos.
Ma. Caroliean Fiel, meanwhile, aims for a “twinkill” in the girls’ 12- and 14-and-U categories with Xyza Calagos and Chrystell Laguna challenging her in both divisions. In the boys’ 14-and-U division, Serillo is a strong contender against siblings Pete and Gil Niere, as well as James Estrella, while Pete Niere and Calagos banner the field in the 12-and-U division.