Warriors repel Tigers, enhance Super Leg bid

GENERAL SANTOS City, Philippines – The MP Warriors of GenSan inaugurated the new GMP Sports Complex in grand fashion as they routed the Ilocos Sur CS Tigers, 80-75, at the start of the General Santos City leg of the SMC Liga Pilipinas Conference V last Wednesday evening.

 “I told the team that we can still make the Super Leg,” said MP Warriors coach Arvin Bonleon. “What’s important is that we control our destiny and it began with our win against the Tigers.”

The sixth-ranked MP Warriors of Rep. Manny Pacquiao earned a point for the win and closed the gap with the CS Tigers to three points for the fifth and last Super Leg slot, 8-11.

Dondon Mendoza played his best game of the tournament so far with 22 points and seven rebounds while Louie Medalla added 20 points, including three triples.

New recruit Chester Taylor led the CS Tigers with 15 points while veteran Chito Jaime and another newcomer Jeff Sanders tossed in 10 points apiece. Jaime also hauled down 11 rebounds.

In the first game, Liga frontrunner Cebu Landmasters RDAK-Mandaue notched its eighth win in nine outings by repulsing the Laguna Golden Lions, 73-68.