Lakers drown Marlins; Zamar replaced

FedEx Laguna outran and outgunned Socsargen en route to a 115-89 victory yesterday at the resumption of the MBA Second Phase at the San Juan Gym.

The Lakers, riding on seven Blitz 3s, posted a 65-39 halftime spread and were never threatened to register their first win after an opening day loss to the LBC Batangas Blades.

Fil-Am Chris Clay exploded with a game-high 35 points as the Lakers handed the Marlins their third straight defeat and spoiled the debut of Francis Rodriguez as Socsargen mentor.

Rodriguez, former coach of the Davao Eagles, replaced Boyzie Zamar, who steered the Philippine team to the 21st Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball title recently in Kuala Lumpur.

Unfortunately for Rodriguez, the Lakers showed their meanest form.

With Clay at the firing end and RP Team member Junel Mendiola contributing, the Lakers led by as many as 32 points, 103-71.

In the other game, Negros, behind RP team mainstays Reuben dela Rosa and John Ferriols, turned back Andoks San Juan, 111-103.

Earlier, Socsargen owner Ben Solon decided to sack Zamar because he could no longer attend to his duties on the Marlins squad as he gave more time to the SEA Games-bound team.

In between his coaching job at Socsargen, Zamar handled the Philippine team to two international meets — the Southeast Asian Basketball Association last April and the just-concluded SEA Games.

Solon informed Zamar of his decision through a letter which he sent to the coach’s residence at the height of the RP quintet’s campaign in the SEA Games.

Zamar, meanwhile, insisted he was not sacked, rather, it was he who offered to resign before the RP delegation left for Malaysia.

"There was a conflict in schedule between Socsargen and the RP team, I have to make a choice between my bread and butter and my commitment to flag and country. So nag-resign ako sa Socsargen, dapat nga effective yon before we left," Zamar said.

He maintained he and Socsargen management parted ways amicably.

"Okay naman kami, nag-usap na kami. Naiintindihan ko na gusto ring ng franchise na umahon at ako, hindi ko naman pwedeng pabayan ang RP team," he said. Socsargen hooked up with Zamar at the start of the year.