By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Bacolod City of Smiles dropped to their second straight loss in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) after a 91-86 beating of Bacoor City Strikers at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Monday evening, August 7.
The Bacolodnons were way behind at 76-53 after three quarters, but managed to create a run in the fourth quarter behind Domark Matillano, Mark Sarangay and Coy Alves to cut the deficit to 78-85 with over two minutes left.
Bacoor widened the lead to 86-78 after a split free throw by Negrense Mark Yee, but Bacolod answered with a technical free throw from Matillano and two more freebies from Sarangay to come within 83-86.
The Strikers once again increased the lead to 88-83 following an inside connection from James Canlas Kwekuteye, but Bacolod responded with a triple from Ryussei Koga to make it an 86-88 score.
After a missed attempt from the Strikers, Bacolod had a chance to take the lead. Matillano and Koga misfired on their outside shots, while Bacoor widened their lead to 89-86 after a split free throw by Ilonggo Aaron Jeruta.
Still, Bacolod had a last opportunity to send the game into overtime, but Matillano and John Cantimbuhan missed their three-point attempts before Kwekuteye sealed Bacoor’s win with two free throws.
Chito Jaime top-scored for the Strikers with 15 points, including three outside conversions, to go with four rebounds and three assists as they improved to 18-4 in the standings.
Kwekuteye added 11 points, four rebounds and two assists, while former PBA player Michael Canete also contributed double-digit output for Bacoor with 11 points and five rebounds.
Sarangay tallied 22 points and nine rebounds, Cantimbuhan added 18 markers and eight assists, while Koga and Alfred Sedillo contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively, as Bacolod dropped to 9-14.
The playoffs-seeking Bacolod will hope to snap their two-game losing skid when they face Laguna Krah Heroes at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City on August 14 at 4:00 p.m.
BACOOR 91 — Jaime 15, Canete 11, Kwekuteye 11, Yee 9, Alday 7, Lee Yu 7, Jeruta 7, Montuano 6, Ludovice 5, Jamito 4, Nermal 3, Eguilos 2, Pasturan 2, Villoria 2, Acidre 0.
BACOLOD 86 — Sarangay 22, Cantimbuhan 18, Koga 12, Sedillo 10, Matillano 8, Alves 7, Basibas 6, Menguez 6, Magbanua 1, Stevens 0, Alano 0.
Quarterscores: 28-22, 51-40, 76-53, 91-86./ASC, WDJ