MLQ downs Air21, stays alive in MBL-Espiritu Cup

Eight-time CUSA champion MLQ University demolished Air 21, 105-84, while Wang’s Ballclub overpowered Vescon-Cerel Manpower, 102-95, to keep their hopes alive in the 2008 MBL-Danny Espiritu Cup basketball championship at the Arellano gym on Legarda, Manila.

John Matubang led three other players in double figures as the Stallions controlled the tempo of the game en route to their fourth win in five matches in this eight-team tournament organized by Millennium Basketball League (MBL) and supported by Dickies Underwear, Whiz Treatment Oil, PRC Couriers and AK 7 Companies.

Matubang scattered a game-high 30 points for MLQU, which is seeking another major title with coach Jojo Castillo and manager Ma. Victoria Chan at the helm.

Backing up Matubang were 2006 CUSA MVP Erick Dizon with 18 points, Jopher Custodio with 17 and RJ Patricio with 11.

John Necesito and Choy Caruz paced Air 21 with 22 points. apiece, followed by Jo-Mar Camarillo with 18 points and Orly Isidro with 16 points. Wang’s, which dropped a 79-84 decision to MLQU last Oct. 14, went to Cholo Medina and Ferdie Go in a decieive scoring run in the third quarter to beat hard-fighting Vescon. Medina and Go caught fire at the start of the third period, triggering a avalanche of baskets from the three-point area to turn the game around.

Medina, a 5-10 former San Sebastian College standout, topscored with 24 points, while Fil-Am Anthony Cuevas added 18 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks for Wang’s Ballclub, which improved to 2-2.

Go contributed 16 points, all from the three-point territory, while Nhoel Baltazar and Richard Litonjua added 12 points apiece for the Mandaluyong-based squad of coach Buboy Rodriguez and businessman-sportsman Alex Wang. Mark Marcos carried the fight for Vescon with 28 points, followed by Chris Taupa with 15, Gerald Bernardo with 12 and Robby Zablan and Mac Avellana with 11 points each.