BATANGAS City Embassy Chill subdued Rizal Xentro Mall 78-70 on Monday to get back on track in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilpinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Bacoor Strike Gym in Cavite.
Riding on a third-quarter scoring spurt by Juneric Baloria, the Batangas Athletics proceeded to lead by as many as 22 points, 45-67, which they used as a buffer to thwart the Rizal Golden Coolers’ attempts to reverse the outcome.
The Athletics were ahead, 70-56, with only 3 minutes and 23 seconds to go when the Golden Coolers made their final assault behind Alvin Capobres and Troy Mallillin. All they could do, however, was narrow the gap at 69-75 with only 35 seconds left.
Batangas, which narrowly lost to Imus, 70-71, on May 9, thus raised its record to 7-2 in the elimination round of the 29-team, two-division tournament.
Baloria, who knocked in three straight triples from the same deep corner, poured 11 of his team-high 13 points in a 15-2 salvo that pushed Batangas ahead, 49-33, in the third quarter. Jeckster Apinan was the other Athletics in twin digits with 11.
Rizal fell to 2-8 despite getting 14 points each from Capobres and Mallillin and 12 from Jeric James Pido.
The MPBL goes to the Laguna Sports Complex in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on Tuesday with a triple bill pitting Bacolod and San Juan at 4 p.m., Sarangani against Zamboanga at 6 p.m. and Laguna against Pasig at 8 p.m.
Caption: Juneric Baloria finds mark for Batangas.
