MANILA – Iloilo United Royals moved closer to securing a playoff seat in the 2019-2020 Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Lakan Cup after a close 67-63 triump over Biñan-Luxxe White Krah Heroes on Jan. 27 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Al Francis Tamsi drained five triples and finished the match with a game-high 24 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists and a steal for the Iloilo team to move up to fifth place in the Southern Division with a 17-11 standing.
Center Rey Publico, meanwhile, finished the match with a near double-double effort of 13 points and nine rebounds, while Richard Escoto contributed 11 markers for the Royals that will look to slain Sarangani Marlins in their next mission to clinch playoff berth status on Jan. 30.
“Very consistent naman ang message ko sa team even sa practices, na ang Biñan, malakas na team, hindi pwedeng biruin, dapat ang level of intensity namin laging mataas,” said Royals head coach Eric Gonzales.
Leading by as much as 12 points, the Royals were threatened with under a minute left as a basket by Binañ’s Macky Acosta trimmed the deficit to 59-63, but the Ilonggos iced the win via back-to-back conversions from Jasper Parker and Tamsi.
Acosta tallied 16 points, Bacolodnon sniper Clark Bautista chipped in 14 markers, while Jed Mendoza and Kyle Neypes got 10 apiece for the Heroes that fell to 10th place in the same division with a 12-17 win-loss record./PN
