MANILA — The Bataan Risers emerged victorious in a tight showdown with the Muntinlupa Cagers, escaping with a 67-63 win at the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga, Bataan on Monday night.
The Risers reigned supreme over the Cagers in a battle between league heavyweights.
It was a close contest from start to finish as Muntinlupa quickly recovered from a seven-point hole Bataan built in the second quarter and even took the lead in the third quarter.
The Risers recovered and took a 55-50 advantage with 7:45 remaining.
But the Cagers responded with five unanswered points to force a 55-all deadlock with 7:01 to play, triggering the wild ending.
Barkley Ebona, however, came to Bataan’s rescue, scoring a clutch lay-in and two crucial free throws that kept Muntinlupa at bay.
The Cagers stayed in the game as it forced Bataan to an eight-second backcourt violation that led to Chito Jaime’s free throws that put the visiting side to within two, 63-65, with 32.3 seconds left.
Yvan Ludovice, however, found an open Robby Celiz underneath for the dagger layup with 8.2 seconds to play.
Byron Villarias even put an exclamation point to the Risers’ win as he blocked Jaime’s last ditch from three-point range before time expired.
Gab Dagangon put up 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting, five rebounds, one steal, and one block for Bataan, which moved up to 19-2.
Ludovice and Celiz each added nine points.
Ebona put up six points, 14 rebounds, one assist, and one steal in total.
Jaime finished with 16 points and six boards for Metro Manila side, which came short of locking in a playoff spot and instead fell to 12-8, virtually tying Batangas City (13-9) for second place in the Southern Division.
The result benefited Davao Occidental as the team now only needs one win or another Muntinlupa loss to seal the top seed in the South.
Meanwhile, the Risers are now three wins away from locking the top seed in the North and the entire MPBL playoffs.
In the first game, the Biñan Heroes opened a gap in the race for the eighth and the last playoff spot in the South after defeating Valenzuela Classic, 74-66.
The Heroes put up a better job on defense as they shut down the Classic for the first three quarters before holding them off in the end.
Biñan threatened to pull away in the second quarter, outscoring Valenzuela, 22-13, to take a 37-25 lead at halftime.
The Classic, however, mounted a comeback bid after limiting the Heroes to just 11 points in the third quarter and opening the fourth with a 7-1 run to trim the lead to two, 48-46, with 7:13 left.
Biñan restored order momentarily as it went on an 10-0 blast to stretch the gap back to 12, 58-46, with 4:51 to play.
Valenzuela still put up a scare, going on an 13-4 rally to draw to within three, 59-62, with 2:20 remaining.
However, the Heroes countered with a 10-3 run to secure the victory.
Ralf Olivarez highlighted an impressive all-around game with a career-high 20 points on top of seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks against no turnover for Laguna, which moved up to 10-13, a half-game ahead of Zamboanga (8-12) for eighth place in the Southern Division.
Raymond Ilagan made up for an off night from centers Rocky Antonares and Michael Mabulac scoring-wise as he put up 15 points alongside 17 rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Antonares, who got a rare start, made up for a quiet offense at the other end, grabbing six rebounds and one block.
Floyd Dedicatoria made 19 markers, nine boards, one assist, one block, and two steals for Valenzuela, whose own playoff bid hit a snag as it fell to 8-14, 1.5 games behind Pampanga for eighth place in the North. (PNA)
