Looking at the Bataan Risers' win over Makati

MANILA, Philippines – The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League is heating up. Last weekend, the Gen San Warriors defeated the Pampanga Lanterns, 72-64, on their home court at the Lagao Gym while the streaking Bataan Risers piped the Makati Skyscrapers, 72-70.

Let’s break down the match between Bataan and Makati. The former is proving to be one of the top squad’s in the MPBL’s Datu’s Cup.

Pamboy Raymundo missed a shot that could have ended the game in regulation. But in overtime, it was his basket — with 1:28 left in regulation — that lifted the Bataan Risers to a pulsating 72-70 win over the tough Makati Skyscrapers.

On the road in General Santos City, the Risers continue to climb up the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu’s Cup standings with its sixth straight win (for an overall 6-1 record) while Makati fell to 4-3.

In the crunch, Bataan got the big plays on both ends of the court. Veteran Gary David scored and then assisted Jeepy Faundo to take a 65-63 lead early in overtime. Then he scored once more and stole the ball from Skyscraper Cedric Ablaza.

After Makati’s James Mangahas hit a triple to give his side a 68-67 lead, Raymundo found Byron Villarias unmarked. The former Heavy Bomber unloaded a three-point bomb to give Bataan a 70-68 lead with 2:07 left. After Rudy Lingganay scored to even up matters for Makati, Raymundo hit that cold-blooded jumper with six seconds left in Bataan’s shot clock for the marginal points. 

Faundo helped out on the defensive end for a block before both team missed shots. Makati had a chance to either send the game into a second extension or win it outright with either a three-point shot or a three-point play, but John Rey Villanueva, fumbled the ball as Bataan escaped with a win.

What I liked about Bataan‘s win was:

• They battled back from a first half deficit to take the lead in the third. Faced with a comeback from Makati and poor shooting late in the game, they got the job done on the defensive end. 
• Makati outrebounded Bataan 60-49 and had better stats in other departments, but the Risers shot better 37 percent to the 29 percent of the Skyscrapers. 
• The big-time players came through for Bataan —David and Raymundo. And Faundo underscored his potential as a top big man. Faundo outplayed his Makati counterpart, Jeckster Apinan, by tabulating 14 points, seven rebounds and one assist on 62 percent shooting. Apinan, several years Faundo’s senior, scored 10 points but did grab 13 boards and had an assist and block. On the other hand, Apinan shot 29% from the field including some gimmes. 

What should Bataan look at from this game?

• Rebounding. Makati punished the Risers 60-49 on the boards but they were not hurt by second chance points as the Skyscrapers had only one more point 13-12 than Bataan.
• Turnovers. If you look at Bataan’s matches that were decided by three-points or less (the 91-88 win over Davao Occidental and this game), the Risers had more turnovers. They had 22-17 turnovers against the Tigers. Against the Skyscrapers, it was 22-14. Makati had a 16-11 advantage in points off errors.

Nevertheless, tough game or not, it is a good win. And it is huge because it sends the Risers back to their home court at Bataan on September 12 against reeling Valenzuela (2-4).