SMC All Stars prevail

MANILA, Philippines -  Richard Marcos scored half of SMC All-Stars’ production, and the two-time champion team held off Solar TV, 88-79, to move to within a win of sweeping Group A in the Meralco-Raffy Japa Cup basketball tournament Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Marcos pumped in 44 points, 15 in the pivotal fourth quarter, as SMC survived a pesky Solar-TV squad to notch its second win in as many games in the tournament also sponsored by the Araneta Center and Coca-Cola.

The PBA’s TV coveror dropped to 1-1 (win-loss).

Only a win over Talk ‘N Text All-Stars separates the SMC All-Stars from completing a three-game sweep of its Group A assignments and advancing to the crossover semi-final round.

Chiki Reyes led Solar TV with 15 points, all coming from the three-point territory.

The scores:

SMC All-Stars (88) - Marcos 44, Vivo 14, Malihan 9, Lahada 9, Rosales 3, Go 2, Atienza 2, Santiago 2, Hernandez 2, Cortez 1, Vilvar 0, Salomon 0.

Solar TV (79) - Reyes 15, Labinghisa 14, Singuay 13, Legaspi 13, Yupangco 8, Embradora 4, Delasin 4, Sia 3, Marson 3, Alcoreza 2, Almo 0, Jopillo 0.

Quarterscores: 18-21; 39-33; 59-57; 88-79.