By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Bacolod City of Smiles suffered a lopsided 105-74 defeat at the hands of Batangas City Embassy Chill to see their two-game winning run in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) at the STRIKE Gym in Bacoor, Cavite on Tuesday night, August 1.
Bacolod dropped to ninth place in the Southern Division standings with a 9-13 win-loss slate following the loss, while Batangas remained on top of the division with a 17-4 record.
Bacolod opened the contest with a 13-7 lead behind early conversions by John Cantimbuhan and Christopher Menguez, but Batangas answered with five straight points to cut the deficit to 12-13.
The Bacolodnons managed to pull away at 21-15 on four straight points from Coy Alves, but Batangas clawed its way back to tie the score at 24-all before Regie Boy Basibas surged Bacolod ahead 25-24 to end the first quarter.
However, that proved to be the Bacolodnons’ last hurrah as Batangas started strong in the second quarter behind Juneric Baloria and Jeckster Apinan to take a 38-33 lead, which later grew to 55-33 at the half behind consecutive points by Mark dela Virgen.
Batangas continued its rampage in the third quarter as baskets from Levi Hernandez and John Ambulodto allowed them to establish a 73-50 lead with less than a minute left in the period.
Bacolod opened the fourth period with consecutive shots, but Batangas had quick answers from John Rey Villanueva and Lingganay to pad the lead further to its biggest at 34 points.
Baloria led the way for Batangas with 20 points, Dela Virgen chipped in 17 markers, while Apinan, Rhaffy Octobre, Hernandez, and Villanueva had 13, 12, 11, and 10 points, respectively.
Menguez had his best game for Bacolod as he top-scored with 15 points to go with six rebounds, while Domark Matillano and Andretti Stevens added 14 and 10 markers, respectively.
The Bacolod City of Smiles will look to bounce back as they face Bacoor City Strikers at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on August 7 at 6:00 p.m.
BATANGAS 105 — Baloria 20, Dela Virgen 17, Apinan 13, Octobre 12, Hernandez 11, Villanueva 10, Ochea 6, Lingganay 5, Arim 4, Ambulodto 3, Cruz 2, Importante 2, Isit 0, Alarcon 0.
BACOLOD 74 — Menguez 15, Matillano 14, Stevens 10, Sarangay 8, Cantimbuhan 7, Alves 6, Sedillo 4, Basibas 4, Koga 3, Chauca 3, Magbanua 0, Alano 0.
Quarterscores: 24-25, 55-33, 73-51, 105-74./ASC, WDJ