The Iloilo United Royals moved closer to securing a spot in the 2019-2020 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League-Lakan Cup playoffs after scoring a 67-63 win over the Biñan City Heroes earlier this week at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. Al Francis Tamsi drained five triples and finished with a game-high 24 points for Iloilo, along with five rebounds, four assists, and a steal; while Rey Publico nearly scored a double-double off 13 points and nine rebounds; and Richard Escoto contributed 11 markers.
“Very consistent naman (They were very consistent),” said Royals head coach Eric Gonzales. “Ang message ko sa team, even sa practices, na ang Biñan, malakas na team, hindi pwedeng biruin, dapat ang level of intensity namin laging mataas (My message to the team, even during practice, was that Biñan is a strong team—they are no joke—and we must keep our intensity up).”
With Iloilo up by as much as 12 points, Macky Acosta trimmed Biñan’s deficit to 63-59, but Jasper Parker and Tamsi scored back-to-back conversions to seal the win for the Ilonggo side.
The Royals will be looking to clinch a playoffs berth against the Sarangani Marlins tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Acosta tallied 16 points for Biñan, Clark Bautista chipped in 14, and Jed Mendoza and Kyle Neypes each got 10./ASC, WDJ