MANILA – Bacolod Master Sardines got back on the winning track in the 2019-2020 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League via an 84-82 escape over Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Pao Javelona top-scored with 27 points, including five triples. John Paul Cauilan added 17 markers.
Bacolod snapped its three-game losing skid to improve to a 3-5 win-loss slate.
Mark Tallo fell short of a triple-double with nine points, nine rebounds and 12 assists while Jopher Custodio and Justin Alano also contributed nine markers apiece.
Down by as much as 13 points early in the third period, Bacolod went on a tear behind Javelona and Tallo to take a 59-58 lead on Jan Colina’s basket but late hits from Zamboanga gave them a 63-61 edge heading into the fourth.
Bacolod surged to a 68-63 lead in the fourth on back-to-back conversions from Javelona and Cauilan. It grew further to its largest at 80-74 on free throws from Javelona and Tallo.
Zamboanga made its last push to come to within two points but a huge three-pointer from Custodio and a split free throw by Javelona was more than enough for Bacolod to escape with a win.
Reed Juntilla top-scored with 17 points while Leodaniel de Vera and Christian Fajardito added 14 and 12 markers, respectively, as the Zamboanguenos dropped to 4-4 win-loss slate./PN
