The Iloilo United Royals pulled off an 89-81 win over the Bacolod Master Sardines last Thursday in the ongoing Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Cup at the Valenzuela Astrodome.
Richard Escoto delivered another solid showing for Iloilo with 22 points; while Jasper Parker scored 15 points; Ilonggo point guard Aaron Jeruta added 12; and Al Francis Tamsi and Ryan Arambulo each put up 10.
From a seesaw battle early in the opening quarter, the Ilonggo side began to create distance with a 24-17 lead following back-to-back treys by Mark Racho and inside hits from Jeruta and Arambulo. Bacolod, however, managed to rally in the second period and tied the game up at 26-26. Iloilo then responded with five straight points from Escoto and shots by Parker and Andrei Pantin for a 42-32 lead.
By halftime, Bacolod narrowed their deficit to five but, into the third quarter, conversions from Escoto, Jeruta and Tamsi gave Iloilo a double-digit lead. They went on to take a 67-50 lead following a triple from Donald Gumaru. Afterwards, Bacolod only managed to get as close a seven points with Arambulo sealing the win./ASC, WDJ