STAR Group clobbers Air Force in MBL tiff

MANILA, Philippines - The Star Group bucked a shaky start then relied on the heads-up plays by Jong Bondoc, Lester Reyes, Vir Roque and Dennis Rodriguez at endgame to fashion out an 86-76 victory over Air Force in the 2010 MBL Invitational basketball championship at the Lyceum gym in Intramuros Tuesday night.

Bondoc fired 20 points, Reyes added 17 and Rodriguez and Roque had 14 points as the Starmen battled back from nine points down in the first half to lead by many as 16 points in the last quarter en route to the victory.

It was the Star Group’s third win in five games for a share of fourth place with defending champion Wang’s Ballclub halfway through the single round elims where the top two teams will gain outright semifinals berths and the next four to slug it out for the two other semis seats.

Paulino Fernandez finished with 13 points for Air Force, which remained winless in five games.

Meanwhile, Lyceum subdued Wang’s, 97-91, to force a two-way tie for second with Manuel L. Quezon U at 3-1. Hobe Bihon paces the field with a 3-0 slate.

Reggie Rimando, Joseph Abaya and Mark Fampulme provided the clutch baskets for the Pirates, who fended off Wang’s Ballclub’s rallies down the stretch to pound out the win.

Rimando finished with a game-high 21 points for the Pirates, who squandered a 19-point lead in the opening period but recovered in time to frustrate Wang’s in the tournament backed by Smart Communications, Dickies Underwear and PRC Managerial Services.