By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negros Pau Muscovados failed to sustain their second half uprising to suffer a 109-103 overtime loss to Sarangani Marlins in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) at the Marikina Sports Center on Tuesday night, August 15.
Down 89-92 after a layup by Marlins’ Danny Marilao, the Muscovados tied the score at 92-all following a three-pointer from Jose Piero Longa with 55 seconds left in the final quarter.
Sarangani regained the advantage at 95-92 on a three-pointer by John Paul Cauilan, but a split free throw by Jason Melano and a layup by Mark Maloles sent the game into overtime.
The Muscovados were still hanging around with the Marlins in the early part of the extension period, but free throw connections by Rafael Are and Cauilan in the endgame sealed the win for Sarangani.
Are took the Player of the Game honors for the Marlins with 29 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals as they notched the much-needed victory to improve to a 10-14 win-loss slate.
Reggz Albert Gabat posted double-double 25 points and 12 rebounds, Cauilan had 15 markers, including four three-point connections, while Jefferson Comia and John Escalambre had 12 and 11, respectively.
Melano led the Muscovados with 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Jonathan Gantalao, Jr. added 13 markers, while Bernie Bregondo and Camillus Altamirano had 12 and 10, respectively. They dropped to a 9-15 record.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo United Royals suffered their second consecutive defeat after an 89-77 beating by 1Bataan Risers. The Ilonggos slumped to 11-13 in the standings, while the Risers improved to 11-12.
Yves Sazon top-scored for the Risers with 21 points, including two three-pointers, Dominick Vera and James Darwin Castro added 15 markers apiece, while Roldan Sara had 13 points.
Lorenzo Navarro drilled five three-point connections to lead the United Royals with 21 points, Joshua Flores finished with 15 markers, while JR Ongteco and Omar Larupay had 10 points apiece.
SARANGANI 109 — Are 29, Gabat 25, Cauilan 15, Comia 12, Escalambre 11, Marilao 8, Desoyo 6, Cosari 2, Monteclaro 1, Jimenez 0, Saitanan 0.
NEGROS 103 — Melano 30, Gantalao 13, Bregondo 12, Altamirano 10, Bartolo 8, Longa 8, Dionson 6, Maloles 6, Ingles 4, Manzo 3, Santillan 3, Pastias 0, Mallari 0, Dela Cruz 0.
Quarterscores: 22-19, 42-36, 71-74, 95-95, 109-103./ASC, WDJ