By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolod City of Smiles failed to hang on to its fourth quarter lead to suffer a 79-67 defeat to Marikina Shoemasters in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) at the Batangas City Coliseum on Tuesday night, March 14.

Holding to a 58-53 lead midway in the fourth quarter, the Bacolodnons were stunned by five straight points by Shoemasters’ Felipe Chavez, a conversion from Jason Opiso and two more baskets by Chavez for a 64-60 advantage.

Marikina continued its scoring barrage with seven points from Chavez and contributions from Opiso and Rian Narra as the lead swelled to 77-62 with less than two minutes left in the match.

Chavez finished the game with 17 points, with 16 coming in the fourth quarter, to go with seven assists, six rebounds, two blocks, and a steal as the Shoemasters opened their MPBL campaign on a winning note.

Opiso chipped in 15 markers, with nine being scored in the opening quarter, to go with 10 rebounds, while Narra and Deo Timajo contributed 13 points each for the new-look Shoemasters.

The Shoemasters were blazing to start the game behind conversions by Opiso and Timajo as they built a 23-11 advantage after a three-point conversion by Joe Gomez de Liano.

Marikina were still on top by double digits at 37-25 in the second quarter when Bacolod went on a huge run behind Domark Matillano and Coy Alves as they cut the deficit to 34-39 at the half.

The momentum was carried over by Bacolod in the third quarter with baskets from Allan Mangahas, Mac Montilla and Alves to take a 43-39 lead before it grew to 53-46 late in the period.

The Bacolodnons grew the lead to 58-53 to start the final quarter courtesy of shots from Matillano and John Cantimbuhan before they fizzled out on a 24-4 counter attack by Marikina.

Cantimbuhan top-scored for the Bacolodnons with 15 points, with 11 coming in the second half, while Bacolod-native Matillano contributed 12 markers, three steals and two rebounds.

MARIKINA 79 — Chavez 17, Opiso 15, Narra 13, Timajo 13, Atabay 5, Gomez de Liano 3, Arenal 3, Tolentino 2, Tan 2, Dionisio 2, Berjay 2, Casajeros 1, Barres 1, Strait 0.

BACOLOD 67 — Cantimbuhan 15, Matillano 12, Alves 9, A. Mangahas 8, Sarangay 6, Montilla 6, J. Mangahas 4, Mengues 3, Arboleda 2, Alano 2, Pabilona 0, Pastias 0.

Quarterscores: 25-14, 39-34, 51-55, 79-67./ASC, WDJ