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The Pasay Voyagers returned to orbit on Wednesday with an 89-75 trouncing of the Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Propped up by their loud local fans, the Voyagers clustered 10 points, the first six by Laurenz Victoria, in the fourth quarter for a 72-49 spread that pushed their record to 4-2 in the elimination round of the 29-team tournament.
Victoria scored 21 points and snared six rebounds as Pasay rebounded from a 70-77 beating by South Cotabato on May 2 to catch up with its victim in the standings.
Other Voyagers who delivered were Patrick Sleat, who scored 14 points, ten rebounds, and five assists; Dhon Reverente, who scored 14 points, seven rebounds, and two steals; and Warren Bonifacio, who scored 14 points, three rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.
Rizal got 20 points from Alwyn Alday and 17 points plus 13 rebounds from Keith Agovida, but no other Golden Cooler could break twin digits.
Earlier, Batangas City banked on a four-cornered attack to thwart Negros, 72-62, while South Cotabato wasted a 20-point spread but held on to beat Bulacan, 85-82.
Drawing firepower from Jeckster Apinan, Mark Cruz, Cedric Ablaza, and RJ Ramirez, the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters pulled away at halftime, 37-22, and proceeded to raise its slate to 5-1.
For the MPBL inaugural titlists in 2018, Apinan collected 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals, Cruz 13 points plus seven rebounds, Ablaza 11 points, nine rebounds plus three blocks, and Ramirez 10 points plus three rebounds.
MJ Dela Virgen also did his share with 9 points and seven assists for Batangas, which pulled down Negros to the lower half of the standings at 3-4.
Renz Palma scored 20 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals for the Muscovados, and Jeremy Cruz scored 10 points, two rebounds, and two steals. South Cotabato leaned on the 29-point, 9-rebound explosion, which also drew 10 points and 10 rebounds from Chris Dumapig.
Bulacan slumped to 1-6 despite the 25-point, 10-assist, 8-rebound, 4-steal effort of Paolo Hubalde and the 24-point, 7-rebound, 2-steal output of Nino Ibanez.
The MPBL goes to the FilOil Flying V Arena on Thursday, with Quezon City battling Mindoro at 4 p.m., Iloilo tackling Bicol at 6 p.m., and Abra tangling with San Juan at 8 p.m.
Photo: Laurenz Victoria delivers for Pasay
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