By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Negros Muscovados saw their winning run snapped after a 93-68 defeat to the Manila SV Batang Sampaloc SGA Stars in the 2024 MPBL Season at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City on Thursday night, August 15.

Tonino Gonzaga carried the scoring cudgels for the Stars with 20 points, with 17 coming in the second half, to go with four rebounds and one assist as they improved to a 16-6 win-loss slate.

“Actually, general lang ‘yung bilin ng coaches [nung halftime] na to go on defense lang, then ibigay ‘yung ball sa loob para lumuwag ‘yung defense for shooters outside and, basic lang, rebounds, run hard and defend hard,” Gonzaga said.

“I think it is also about the culture that we have — tulungan lang kami. Tapos we encourage each other, kahit magkaparehas ng position, we encourage each other sa practice, even sa games,” he added.

Gregory Slaughter chipped in a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds along with four assists and four blocks, while James Sena contributed 11 for Manila, which bounced back from an upset loss to the Mindoro Tamaraws.

Holding to a slim 22-18 lead after the opening quarter, the Stars created separation from the Muscovados in the second period behind Slaughter and Sena to build a 46-33 halftime lead.

Manila got a huge lift from Gonzaga’s outside sniping in the second half as the lead reached as high as 28 points at 90-68 on two free throws by Sena late in the fourth period.

Jan Formento was the lone double-digit scorer for Negros with 12 points, while Renz Palma and Alvin Capobres struggled with just nine points apiece as they dropped to an 11-13 record./ASC, WDJ

MANILA 93 — Gonzaga 20, Slaughter 13, Sena 11, Cruz 9, Jamon 8, Pasturan 6, Javelona 5, Bataller 5, Cantimbuhan 5, Torralba 4, Navarro 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Mallari 2, Tempra 0, Flores 0.

NEGROS 68 — Formento 12, Palma 9, Capobres 9, Longa 8, Villanueva 7, Peralta 6, Geolingo 6, Reyes 4, Raflores 3, Espanola 2, Gania 2, Lorenzo 0, Caunan 0, Ramos 0.

Quarterscores: 22-18, 46-33, 71-51, 93-68.