By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negros Muscovados finally tasted a win as they walloped Oriental Mindoro Disiplinados, 92-77, in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex on Thursday night, March 16.
Richard Albo waxed hot in the second half to finish with 22 points, to go with 10 rebounds and seven assists, while Jason Melano chipped in 19 markers and eight boards for the Muscovados, 1-1.
Edrian Lao also made his presence felt with 17 points and six rebounds, while homegrown player Nico Paolo Javelona bounced back from a subpar showing against Quezon Huskers to tally 11 points for the Negrenses.
It was the first victory of the Muscovados franchise in the MPBL after dropping all of their five matches during the 2021 MPBL Invitational and losing to the Huskers, 82-80, last Saturday, March 11.
“Medyo masama ‘yung pagkatalo namin [against the Huskers],” the 38-year-old Albo, who was hailed as the Player of the Game, said.
“Nagkaroon lang kami ng konting adjustments sa training in preparation for this game,” he added.
The Muscovados were blazing to start the game behind inside conversions by Melano and Albo for a 17-8 lead. The lead grew to 22-13 following three-pointers by Mark Maloles and Jonathan Gantalao.
Melano continued to attack inside in the second quarter as the lead reached 44-29 midway in the second quarter, but the Disiplinados had some runs to cut the deficit to 39-52 at the half.
The Muscovados regained their shooting in the third quarter with Albo drilling five straight points for a 59-41 advantage. The Disiplinados got their shots to fall as well as to trim the lead to 50-63.
The Negrenses created separation anew in the final quarter with Albo converting consecutive shots followed by back-to-back inside hits by Lao as the lead reached 89-71 with less than five minutes left.
Bernabe Teodoro led the way with 18 points, including five three-point conversions, Rodel Vaygan added 15 markers, while Jon Ivan Cudiamat and Kristan Hernandez had 12 and 11, respectively, as the Disiplinados dropped to 0-1.
NEGROS 92 — Albo 22, Melano 19, Lao 17, Javelona 11, Maloles 6, Andaya 4, Cuyos 4, Gantalao 3, Bartolo 2, Geolingo 2, Santillan 2, Longa 0, Dulatre 0, Ingles 0, Villafranca 0.
ORIENTAL MINDORO 77 — Teodoro 18, Vaygan 15, Cudiamat 12, Hernandez 11, Abanes 6, Ocampo 5, Osicos 5, Bangeles 3, Bernal 2, Huerto 0, Garcia 0.
Quarterscores: 29-20, 52-39, 70-54, 92-77./ASC, WDJ