Host Buddies beat Stallions in leg opener

ANGELES CITY, Philippines – Host Smart-Pampanga Buddies began the defense of their home floor with a 79-73 whipping of the Trace-Laguna Stallions at the start of the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Pampanga leg Wednesday night at the Holy Angel University Gym.

The Buddies of coach Allan Gregorio took advantage of their opponent’s poor field goal shooting in the final canto to fashion out their first win in the tournament backed by Smart, Accel, Molten, Calcium-Cee, Gatorade, Air 21 and Burlington and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

In the first game, Forward Taguig vaulted to the top of the Liga Tour standings with a sound thrashing of the debuting Toyota-Bacolod Turbos, 79-70.