By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolod City of Smiles tasted their 24th straight defeat in the 2024 MPBL Season as they bowed to the Manila SV Batang Sampaloc SGA Stars, 123-76, at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila on Monday night, September 16.

Gregory Slaughter converted all of his nine two-point field goal attempts to finish with 21 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and two assists as the Stars improved to an 18-8 win-loss slate.

According to the seven-foot Slaughter, the Stars are treating their remaining elimination round games with importance as they want to finish as high as possible going into the playoffs round.

“The standings are pretty close, so we are trying to end up with the best position that we can, so we are treating our next games as like playoffs already,” Slaughter said in a post-game interview.

Rabeh Al-Hussaini came off the bench to contribute 17 points and six rebounds, while Carl Bryan Cruz, James Tempra and Jorey Napoles contributed 10 markers apiece for the Stars.

John Lopez top-scored for Bacolod with 18 points, Yvan Ludovice added 17 markers, while Jose Antiporda and Alfred Sedillo ended with 12 and 11 markers, respectively, as they dropped to a 1-26 record.

The Bacolodnons hope to snap their losing skid as they face the Imus Agimat VA Drones to close out their campaign at the Caloocan Sports Complex on September 27.

Meanwhile, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (23-3) scored a come-from-behind 81-78 victory over the Abra Weavers (15-10).

Negrense Robby Celiz was named Player of the Game with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists./ ASC, WDJ

MANILA 123 — Slaughter 21, Al-Hussaini 17, Tempra 10, Cruz 10, Napoles 10, Sena 9, T. Gonzaga 8, Navarro 7, Torralba 7, Jamon 7, Pasturan 6, Flores 6, Tolomia 3, Javelona 2, Bataller 0.

BACOLOD 76 — Lopez 18, Ludovice 17, Antiporda 12, Sedillo 11, Pardo 8, Marilao 6, Peromingan 4, Ramos 0.

Quarterscores: 31-18, 54-33, 92-57, 123-76.