By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolod City of Smiles failed to sustain their fourth quarter uprising as they faltered to the Mindoro Tamaraws, 114-103, in the MPBL Season at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City on Monday night, August 26.

Jayvee dela Cruz delivered timely conversions for Mindoro after they saw their once 24-point advantage cut to as low as 92-98 by a furious second half uprising by Bacolod.

Bacolod still managed to rally to within 10 points several times, but Mindoro had their answers from Jhon Caspe and Kint Ariar as they secured the wire-to-wire victory.

Dela Cruz finished with 22 points, including three three-point conversions, to go with six rebounds and six assists as the Tamaraws improved to an 8-16 win-loss slate.

“Nag-adjust lang kami sa depensa nung last five minutes kasi medyo nag-relax kami dahil malaki ‘yung naging lamang namin [nung first half],” Dela Cruz said during his Player of the Game interview.

“Siguro, in our remaining games, mas pag-iigtingin pa namin ‘yung desire namin na manalo. Ayaw namin sayangin ‘yung opportunity na ibinigay sa amin ng team owners,” he added.

Lester Reyes added 20 markers, seven rebounds and four assists, while Caspe, Rudy Lingganay and Ariar chipped in 19, 14 and 13 markers, respectively, for the Tamaraws.

Louie Vigil finished with 31 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists, Rashawn McCarthy added 18 markers, while Yvan Ludovice and Alfred Sedillo contributed 16 and 15, respectively, as Bacolod dropped to 1-23./ASC, WDJ

MINDORO 114 — Dela Cruz 22, Reyes 20, Caspe 19, Lingganay 14, Ariar 13, Meca 8, Marquez 6, Sombero 6, Camit 4, Bono 2, Aquino 0, Huerto 0, Pena 0.

BACOLOD 103 — Vigil 31, McCarthy 18, Ludovice 16, Sedillo 15, Marilao 8, Peromingan 6, Lopez 4, Ramos 3, Antiporda 2, Pardo 0.

Quarterscores: 44-22, 63-49, 90-80, 114-103.