MANILA -- Rizal Crusaders recovered from a shaky third quarter to repulse Marikina Shoemasters, 75-69, in the MPBL Datu Cup at the Batangas City Sports Center in Batangas City on Thursday night.
Appearing to be on track for a blowout after taking a 41-31 halftime lead, the Crusaders sputtered in the third quarter as the Shoemasters outscored them, 23-12, to take a 54-53 lead.
Rizal then started the fourth quarter on a 17-5 run to take a 70-59 advantage with 5:11 to play.
Marikina still had one final push, going on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to just three, 72-69, with 1:32 to play, but Marco Balagtas scored a dagger layup in the next play to help seal the win for Rizal.
Balagtas finished with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, 10 rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and one steal, while Eric Dela Cuesta and Marvin Mercado each added 11 markers for the Crusaders, who are now at 3-7, as their bench players took over the game.
Erwin Sta. Maria's 24-point outing went down the drain as the Shoemasters fell to a four-way tie with the Parañaque Patriots, the Basilan Steel, and the Batangas City Athletics, who won in the second game against the Caloocan Supremos, 81-69, in eighth place in the Southern Division at 4-5.
Teytey Teodoro came out firing for Batangas City as the team once again built a winning streak following a surprise four-game skid at home.
Teodoro led the Athletics' charge in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Supremos for good after a tight showdown in the first three quarters.
Teodoro finished with 23 points, just one point shy of his MPBL career-high, on 4-of-6 shooting from deep, four rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block, while Jaymo Eguilos and Paul Varilla each added 11 points for Batangas City, which had 24 assists out of its 30 made baskets against only seven turnovers.
Mar Villahermosa top-scored for Caloocan, which slipped to 2-7, with 10 points, two rebounds, three assists, and one block. (PNA)
