MPBL: Caloocan outlasts Davao in OT; Rizal, Negros win

MANILA, Philippines – Caloocan went through overtime to subdue Davao Occidental, 79-76, on Tuesday in the 6th MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

Jeramer Cabanag scored five points, including the deciding lay-up in the extra period, as the Batang Kankaloo improved their win-loss record to 8-5 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.

Joshua Flores also shone for Caloocan as he grabbed the rebound after missing his second free throw and found Cabanag open for the basket that pegged the final count with still 1:16 left.

Davao's Kenneth Ighalo forced the extension at 71-71 with a triple, only 4.2 seconds to go.

Cabanag wound up with 20 points, including three triples; followed by Flores with 13 points plus nine rebounds; and Ronnie Mathias with 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

The Tigers dropped to 10-5 despite the 20-point, five-assist, three-rebound effort of new acquisition Mark Tallo; the 18-point, four-rebound, three-assist effort of Ighalo; the 12-point, 11-rebound, six-assist contribution of Arth Dela Cruz; and the 10-point, 10-rebound, four-assist line of Terrence Tumahip.

Neither team posted a double-digit lead in the tight fight marked by 12 lead changes and 10 deadlocks.

In earlier games, Rizal Xentromall thwarted Mindoro, 64-60, while Negros subdued Imus, 75-68.

The Rizal Golden Coolers led throughout and by as far as 48-30 before coasting to their ninth win in 16 starts.

Alwyn Alday paced Rizal with 21 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals. Rocky Acidre supported him with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, and so did Bambam Gamalinda with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Marco Balagtas snagged 21 rebounds that enabled the Golden Coolers to rule the boards, 66-43.

Mindoro, which tumbled to 4-12 mainly due to a horrendous 1-of-23 conversion from the 3-point zone, got 22 points and 17 rebounds from Jethro Sombero; and 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals from Kint Ariar.

The Negros Muscovados improved to 6-10 behind Buenaventura Raflores' 13 points and 11 rebounds and homegrown Jose Piero Longa's 13 points each.

Imus, which remained winless after 16 games, drew 22 points, nine rebounds and three assists from Orin Catacutan; and 20 points, seven rebounds and four steals from Nemesis Dela Cruz.

The MPBL visits the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna, on Wednesday with a triple bill pitting Paranaque against Bicolandia at 4 p.m., Sarangani against Quezon City at 6 p.m. and Quezon Province against Binan at 8 p.m.