Pampanga Bulls upend Forward Taguig

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO–Host Pampanga Bulls whipped Forward Taguig, 86-76, Friday night to move up to third place in the National Basketball League (NBL) national championship eliminations at the Gov. Bren Guiao Convention Center here.

Arnel Manalac and new recruit Ariel Garcia sparkled as the Bulls improved their record to 5-4 in the tourney supported by Tanduay Rhum, Air Philippines, Cebu Ferries, Nature’s Spring Drinking Water, SuperCat, BJ Star Logistics, Panasonic, Sinners and Saints, The Freeman, Jaguar KTV, Gatorade and Molten Basketballs.

Air Philippines-Bacolod got back at Spring Cooking Oil-Bulacan by eking out a thrilling 83-80 victory in the second game.

AirPhil, which lost to Spring, 71-84, last June 21 in Malolos City, posted its second win in seven games.

AirPhil’s Bernard de Guia and Pampanga’s Arnel Manalac won game MVP honors.

Action shifts back to the Gov. Angel Medina Sr. gym in Ozamiz City on Saturday with Cebu’s M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala facing AirPhil at 4 p.m. and host Compak Shineway going up against MayniLA.