By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Kyle Tolentino caught fire from the three-point area as the South Cotabato Warriors pulled off an 81-74 win over the Negros Muscovados in the 2024 MPBL Season at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City on Tuesday night, May 14.
The Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights gunner finished with 23 points, including seven outside conversions, to go with eight rebounds and two assists as the Warriors hiked their record to a 5-3 win-loss slate.
Tolentino’s seventh trifecta of the game served as a game-clincher for the Warriors as it extended their lead to 78-71, after the Muscovados charged back to within 71-75 with less than a minute left.
“Masaya ako [na naipasok ko ‘yung] last [three-point] shot ko kasi humahabol ‘yung kalaban,” Tolentino said during his Player of the Game interview.
“Game-clincher para sa amin ‘yun,” he said.
“Kumpiyansa naman ako [sa outside shots ko] kasi tuwing practice, pina-practice ko talaga ‘yun, and credit din sa mga teammates ko kasi malaki ang tiwala nila sa akin,” he added.
Christian Fajarito backed up Tolentino offensively with 16 markers, seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, while John Wilson hoisted four three-pointers to end up with 14 points for South Cotabato.
Renz Palma and Jeff Comia top-scored for the slumping Muscovados with 20 points apiece, while Hubert Cani chipped in 13 markers.
They suffered their fifth straight loss to drop to a 3-5 record.
Meanwhile, Warren Bonifacio made use of his height advantage to lead the Pasay Voyagers to a tight 81-77 win over the Iloilo United Royals to improve to a 5-2 win-loss slate, while the United Royals dropped to 2-5.
The former Mapua University Cardinals center finished with a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, while also hitting a rare shot clock-beating three-pointer that gave them a 77-68 advantage with over three minutes left.
“Lahat naman kami may freedom na tumira basta open, so tine-take namin ‘yung opportunity na maka-shoot kasi hindi naman namin alam kung papasok or hindi,” Bonifacio said in his Player of the Game interview./ASC, WDJ
SOUTH COTABATO 81 — Tolentino 23, Fajarito 16, Wilson 14, Joson 6, Elorde 4, Dumapig 4, Cruz 3, Acuna 3, Jamito 2, Rodriguez 2, Dionisio 2, Apreku 2, Lantaya 0.
NEGROS 74 — Palma 20, Comia 20, Cani 13, Cruz 6, Caunan 4, Longa 3, Capobres 3, Atabay 3, Una 2, Antiporda 0, Ramos 0.
Quarterscores: 13-13, 30-37, 56-52, 81-74.