Volunteers thwart Waves, grab lead

SAN FERNANDO CITY — Gilbey’s Olongapo leaned on the steady play of Topex Robinson to subdue Osaka Pangasinan, 88-79, and grab the provisional lead in the Northern division of the MBA National Conference at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here.

The 5-foot-9 speedster canned fived straight freethrows to stop the rallying Waves, who came to within 77-72, after trailing by as many as 10 points at 72-62.

Gilbey’s Olongapo improved its win-loss record to 2-1, while Osaka Pangasinan fell to 1-2.

Robinson finished with 10 points, three rebounds, one assist and four steals to earn best-player honors for the first time.

Centers Jeffrey Flowers of the Volunteers and Romel Adducul of the Waves cancelled each other out. Flowers wound up with 12 points, 26 rebounds and two blocks, while Adducul notched 10 points, 22 rebounds and eight blocks.

Flowers, however, got plenty of help from Joel Dualan, who collared 19 rebounds on top of 12 points. Brixter Encarnacion topscored for the Volunteers of Coach Junel Baculi with 24 points.

LBC Batangas and Pampanga, both at 1-1, are still playing at presstime with the winner catching up with Gilbey’s Olongapo.

Meanwhile, Casino Cagayan de Oro stunned First Conference champion RCPI Negros, 110-102, Friday night at the Mindanao Polytechnic Gym in Cagayan de Oro City.

It was the Amigos’ first win in three outings, tying them with their victims in the Southern Conference.

The MBA returns to the Mindanao Polytechnic today with RCPI Negros facing Professional Davao at 1 p.m. and Cebuana Lhuillier meeting Casino Cagayan do Oro at 3:30 p.m.