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Rizal Xentromall shocked San Juan, 104-100, in triple overtime late Monday to serve notice that it can’t be taken lightly in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Rizal Golden Coolers banked on the trio of Alwyn Alday, Kraniel Villoria, and homegrown Jerie Pingoy to post their eighth victory in 12 starts while stopping the Knights’ winning streak at nine in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
With Pingoy and Villoria drilling in a triple each and Alday adding a layup, Rizal surged ahead, 101-96, in the third extra period from which San Juan couldn’t recover. Playing for 46 minutes and 35 seconds, Alday wound up with 27 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals, while Villoria finished with 24 points, 10 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals in a 41-minute, 28-second stint.
It was Pingoy who was chosen best player, however, as he poured all his 12 points in the extra periods, to go with 6 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals.
Other Golden Coolers who delivered were Keith Agovida with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, Marco Balagtas with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists, and John Apacible with 8 points and 15 rebounds. Rizal also caused ripples when it stunned reigning champion Pampanga, 78-71, on April 9.
San Juan was ahead, 69-61, with 5 minutes to go in regulation, but went silent the rest of the way and allowed Rizal to equalize with a closing 8-point run by Alday, Apacible, and Villoria. The Knights got 21 points and 11 rebounds from Dexter Maiquez, who, however, missed his first free throw with 8.4 seconds left in the third overtime and was forced to intentionally miss the second as Rizal was ahead, 102-100, by then. Alday pegged the final tally with two charities in the final 6.4 seconds.
San Juan drew 19 points from Orlan Wamar, who forced the second extension, 93-93, with a triple in the last 6.8 seconds. Veteran Reynel Hugnatan, who also canned a triple with 12.7 seconds left to knot the count at 80 after the first overtime, finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists for the Knights.
Meantime, Andrei Armenion drilled in a corner jumper with 0.6 seconds left to lift the Valenzuela Classics past the Pasay Voyagers, 86-85.
Completing its comeback from a 59-69 deficit after the third quarter, Valenzuela raised its record to 7-6 behind Fil-Am CJ Payawal, who finished with 20 points, including 4 triples, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Darell Manliguez posted 15 points, 14 assists, and 4 rebounds to earn best player honors. Christian De Chavez also delivered for Valenzuela with 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Voyagers, who dropped to 7-5, drew 22 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds from Laurenz Victoria, 16 points and 12 rebounds from Warren Bonifacio, 15 points and 4 assists from Alejandro Inigo, and 14 points plus 6 rebounds from AJ Coronel. The Marikina Shoemasters banked on Joe Gomez De Liano and Eric Joseph Pili to thwart the Bulacan Kuyas, 95-91.
Although Marikina led throughout, the Shoemasters needed to repulse Bulacan’s repeated assaults in the second half behind Kristan Hernandez and Nino Ibanez to tally only their second victory in 12 starts. De Liano fired 26 points, Pili added 24 to neutralize Hernandez’s 23-point output, 19 coming in the last 20 minutes, and Ibanez’s 16, including 11 in that period.
De Liano added 4 steals and 2 assists while Pili added 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Other shoemasters who shone were RR Casajeros and Adzhar Udjan, who scored 10 points each, and Jethro Escoto, who scored 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 points, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.
Bulacan, which dipped to 2-11, got 16 points from John Cayno Carandang and 15 from Jason Celis.
The MPBL goes to the FPJ Arena in San Jose, Batangas, for the first time on Tuesday. The games pit Mindoro against Pangasinan at 4 p.m., Negros against Quezon City at 6 p.m., and Binan against Batangas at 8 p.m.
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