By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolod City of Smiles has returned to their winning ways following a 91-75 domination of Quezon City TODA Aksyon V Fresh in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) at the One Cainta Arena in Rizal on Friday night, July 7.

Bacolod-native Domark Matillano finished with 21 points, including three three-point conversions, to go with seven rebounds, five steals, two assists, and two blocks to lead the way for his hometown squad.

Alfred Sedillo chipped in 14 markers and four rebounds, while Ryussei Koga contributed 11 points as Bacolod City snapped their two-game losing skid to improve to a 7-11 win-loss slate.

Bacolod opened the game with a 13-5 lead behind back-to-back triples by Koga and conversions from Regie Boy Basibas and Matillano. The lead went up to 22-9 but Quezon City countered with a run to cut it to 18-24.

Quezon City pulled even closer at 21-26, but Bacolod City went on a huge second quarter run courtesy of inside hits from Justin Alano and baskets from Matillano and Basibas to widen the lead further to 52-37 at the half.

Bacolod went on to build a 59-39 lead on a basket by John Cantimbuhan, but Quezon City had their moments as they were able to cut the deficit to 55-70 heading into the fourth period.

The Bacolodnons dampened Quezon City’s uprising early in the final quarter with a basket from Coy Alves, but the latter threatened anew to within 58-72 after a free throw by Jake Bagon.

But that was Quezon City’s last stand as Bacolod City pulled away anew with triples from Koga and Sedillo and inside shots from Cantimbuhan and Alves for their largest lead of 86-63.

Errol Soriano top-scored for Quezon City with double-double 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Kim Kaizen Lo and Jan Genesis Benavidez added 12 points each as they dropped to 3-16.

Bacolod City of Smiles will try to notch their second consecutive win when they face Negros Pau Muscovados at the Batangas City Coliseum on Thursday, July 13 at 4:00 p.m.

BACOLOD CITY 91 — Matillano 21, Sedillo 14, Koga 11, Alves 8, Alano 8, Basibas 7, Menguez 6, Cantimbuhan 6, Sarangay 4, Arciaga 3, Magbanua 2, Stevens 1.

QUEZON CITY 75 — Soriano 15, Lo 12, Benavidez 12, Melegrito 8, Enriquez 8, Roman 5, Flores 4, Santos 4, Bagon 3, Sumalacay 2, Pedrosa 2, Lina 0, Berjay 0.

Quarterscores: 24-18, 52-37, 70-55, 91-75./ASC, WDJ