By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolod City of Smiles leaned on a fourth quarter breakaway to defeat Oriental Mindoro Disiplinados, 69-60, in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City on Tuesday night, June 6.

With the score tied at 55-all, Bacolod got a three-pointer from Domark Matillano, a three-point play from Alfred Sedillo and a conversion from Valandre Chauca to build a 64-57 lead.

After Oriental Mindoro’s timeout, Bacolod managed to widen the lead further with a layup from Chauca and a free throw from Sedillo for a 67-58 score with 32 seconds left in the game.

Oriental Mindoro trimmed the deficit to 60-67 via two free throw connections from Agem Miranda, but Bacolod secured the victory as Ryussei Koga canned in two freebies with 18 seconds remaining.

Chauca finished with 16 points, including three three-point conversions, to go with four rebounds, three assists and a steal to be hailed as the Player of the Game for Bacolod.

James Mangahas hoisted three outside conversions to end up with 13 markers, Sedillo contributed 11 points, while Matillano hauled in 11 rebounds to go with nine points as Bacolod improved to 5-8.

Bacolod was on fire to start the game behind John Pastias and Sedillo for a 20-11 advantage, but Oriental Mindoro turned things around in the second quarter to snatch the upper hand at 33-30 at the half.

Oriental Mindoro went on to widen the lead to 38-30 early in the third quarter, but Bacolod relied on three-point conversions by Mangahas and Chauca to take a 55-50 lead before it was tied by the Disiplinados for the last time at 55-all.

Miranda was the lone double-digit scorer for the Disiplinados with 16 points, including three outside conversions, while Marvel Joy Jimenez and Rodel Vaygan added nine markers each as they dropped to 2-11.

Bacolod City of Smiles will hope to stretch their winning streak to three games as they tangle with Pasay City Voyagers at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City on June 12 at 6 p.m.

BACOLOD 69 — Chauca 16, J. Mangahas 13, Sedillo 11, Matillano 9, Menguez 6, Pastias 6, Koga 6, A. Mangahas 2, Pabilona 0, Cantimbuhan 0, Sarangay 0, Guerrero 0.

ORIENTAL MINDORO 60 — Miranda 16, Jimenez 9, Vaygan 9, Baltazar 8, Estrella 7, Bragais 6, Hernandez 3, Montes 2, Tolentino 0, Osicos 0, Camacho 0.

Quarterscores: 20-11, 30-33, 49-50, 69-60./ASC, WDJ