Mail & More delivers, gains piece of PBL lead

Mail & More delivered the goods right in the first quarter as the Comets crushed the Kettle Korn Pop Kings, 84-63, yesterday to gain a share of the lead with Henkel Sista-St. Benilde in the PBL Silver Cup at the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque.

JR Quiñahan struggled for just seven points but Jerby del Rosario took over and fired 17 points while three others churned out double-digit scores to power the Comets to their fifth straight victory and sixth overall in eight outings to tie Henkel Sista on top.

"Everybody responded well to my challenge," said Mail & More coach Lawrence Chongson. "Ayaw nila na sila ang maging unang biktima ng Kettle Korn kaya sa umpisa pa lang todo bigay sila kaagad."

It was the eighth straight setback for the Pop Kings, who made a searing rally early in the third only to fold up in the end.

In the second game, JC Intal and Jonathan Fernandez combined in the fourth quarter as Harbour Centre got back at Hapee Toothpaste-Philippine Christian University, 75-67.

The sweet-shooting Fernandez banged in three huge three-pointers in the fourth while Intal scattered eight as the Port Masters scuttled Hapee’s determined comeback.

With the win the Port Masters improved to 5-3 record, the same mark of the Teethmasters.