Pasay, Batangas deliver goods

MANILA, Philippines —  Pasay stunned the Davao Occidental Tigers, 57-56, last Friday to grab the spotlight from early winners Batangas and South Cotabato in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters outscored the Imus Agimat in every quarter to tally a 108-79 victory while the South Cotabato Warriors banked on the hot hands of Kyle Tolentino to drub the Muntinlupa Cagers, 103-62.

Levi Hernandez shone in Batangas’ third straight win in as many starts with 23 points, four rebounds and three assists, followed by Jeckster Apinan and homegrown Oliver Neal Arim with 10 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Sharing the top spot with Batangas were Negros, Parañaque and Zamboanga.

Imus, which absorbed its third straight defeat, got 27 points from John Rey Sumido, 12 points from CJ Luengco and 12 points plus 16 rebounds from Kenneth Estabillo.

With Tolentino sinking 7 of 11 triple tries, South Cotabato led by as far as 100-57 and raised its record to 2-1. Muntinlupa, which tumbled to 0-3, got 16 points from Jasper Cuevas and 12 points from June Longalong.

The MPBL trooped to the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City yesterday with a triple-bill pitting Rizal against Bicolandia at 4 p.m.,  Valenzuela against Quezon Province at 6 p.m., and Quezon City against Nueva Ecija at 8 p.m.