By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negros Muscovados failed to hang on to their early leads to suffer an 82-80 defeat to Quezon Huskers at the start of the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Season at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City on Saturday night, March 11.
Ahead 74-64 early in the fourth quarter behind the explosions of Jonathan Gantalao, Jr. and Edrian Lao, the Muscovados saw their lead trimmed to 69-72 behind consecutive triples by Huskers’ Jeric Teng.
The Muscovados widened the lead anew to 76-69 behind back-to-back inside hits by Lao, but the Huskers rode on triples by RJ Minerva and Teng, an inside hit by Lucena City Mayor Mark Alcala and a triple by Mark Pangilinan to take a 79-78 advantage.
The Muscovados regained the lead for the last time at 80-79 on an inside hit by Jason Melano, but a counter layup by Thomas Torres and a split free throw by Ximone Sandagon served as the difference maker for the Huskers.
Teng spearheaded the offense for the debuting Huskers with 14 points, Torres chipped in 12 markers, while Pangilinan and RJ Minerva also finished in double-digits with 11 and 10, respectively.
The Muscovados had a solid start as they went up 19-7 in the opening quarter behind baskets by Melano, Louie Cuyos and Roberto Bartolo Jr., but the Huskers managed to cut it to 12-22 on a buzzer-beating layup by Conrad Catapusan.
The Negrenses continued their strong start in the second quarter as they padded the lead to its largest at 30-14 via connections from Mark Maloles, Richard Albo and Bartolo, but the Huskers closed the first half with a strong run to trim it to 33-39 at the half.
The Huskers continued their run in the third canto as they finally took a 49-46 advantage on two triples by Alcala and another outside hit from Topeng Lagrama, but the Muscovados had answers from Gantalao and Albo to take a slim 60-59 advantage.
Gantalao waxed hot for the Muscovados to start the final quarter as he unloaded back-to-back triples and a layup for a 70-61 advantage, but failed to maintain the advantage until the endgame.
Gantalao finished the game with 18 points, all in the second half, to lead the Muscovados. Melano chipped in 13 markers, while Albo and Lao contributed 12 and 11 markers, respectively.
QUEZON 82 — Teng 14, Torres 12, Pangilinan 11, Minerva 10, Sandagon 9, Alcala 8, Lagrama 6, Casiño 3, Catapusan 3, Gravera 2, Pascual 2, Beltran 0, Madrigal 0, Ramos 0.
NEGROS 80 — Gantalao 18, Melano 13, Albo 12, Lao 11, Bartolo 7, Maloles 6, Cuyos 6, Santillan 4, Javelona 3, Dulatre 0, Geolingo 0, Villafranca 0.
Quarterscores: 12-22, 33-39, 59-60, 82-80./ASC, WDJ