Volunteers spew fire against Dragons, join Slashers on top

SAN FABIAN, Pangasinan – The Olongapo Volunteers continued to play like a well-oiled machine yesterday, this time beating the Pampanga Dragons, 94-75, for a share of the lead in the MBA First Conference at the CDCC Gym here.

With Eugene Tan and Jeffrey Flowers showing the way, the Volunteers, playing their first conference in the five-year-old league, led by as many as 22 points en route to their fourth win against a single loss.

The victory sent the Volunteers into a tie with RCPI Negros while the loss left the Dragons, the MBA’s inaugural champion in 1998, sharing the cellar with Cagayan de Oro at 1-4, and LBC Batangas, still winless in two games.

Tan fired 19 points on top of nine assists, two rebounds and two steals while Flowers, who could have been part of the Asian Games-bound national team if not for eligibility problems, was almost unstoppable with his 28 points and 10 rebounds.

Today’s lone game at the Cebu Coliseum pits Cagayan de Oro against home team Cebuana Lhuillier at 6 p.m. The Gems, always a threat to reckon with, suffered their first loss after three straight wins when they lost to the Slashers, 96-91.

Pampanga playing-coach Ato Agustin groped for his shots and finished the game with a measly five points. Richard Melencio was hardly a factor, too, with his 10 points.