Manila trips Bataan, Pangasinan rips Bulacan

MANILA, Philippines — Manila tripped Bataan, 90-84, on Wednesday and gained traction in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Paco Arena in Manila.

Other games saw Pangasinan vent its wrath on Bulacan, 87-55, and Bacolod repulse Sarangani, 84-81.

Pao Javellona and Carl Bryan Cruz scored 17 points each, while Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Ahmad Didat Hanapi added 15 each as Manila SV Batang Sampaloc notched its second straight win and climbed to 2-1 in the round-robin elimination round of the country’s top regional league.

Their joint efforts enabled Manila to lead by 17 at 69-52 and hand Bataan its first loss in three outings.

Javellona added seven assists and six rebounds to earn best player honors over Cruz, who also had six rebounds, four blocks and two assists.

Al-Hussaini, a former UAAP MVP, added three rebounds, two assists and two blocks while Hanapi snared seven rebounds.

Having dropped their first two games, the Pangasinan Heatwaves played all-out from the start and were never in trouble as Hesed Gabo presided over their offense with 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Gabo was supported by Michael Mabulac and homegrown Mark Meneses, who chalked up four rebounds, two assists and two steals each.

Jason Solis submitted 17 points for Bulacan.

Bacolod wasted a 21-point lead, but held on to nip Sarangani in the opener and improve its card to 1-2.

Homegrown LA Casinillo paced Bacolod with 20 points, seven rebounds and two steals, followed by Tricky Dyn Peromingan with 12 points, four rebounds and two blocks, and Jacob Galicia with 11 points and 10 rebounds.