Caloocan tames Davao as Negros keeps Imus locked out of MPBL win column

CALOOCAN went through overtime before caging Davao Occidental, 79-76, on Tuesday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

Jeramer Cabanag scored five points, including the deciding layup in the extra period, as the Batang Kankaloo improved their record to 8-5 in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.

Joshua Flores also came up clutch for Caloocan as he grabbed the rebound after missing his second free throw and found Cabanag open for the basket that pegged the final count with still a minute and 16 seconds left.

Cabanag wound up with 20 points, followed by Flores with 13 points plus nine rebounds, and Ronnie Matias with 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

Davao dropped to 10-5 despite the 20-point, 5-assist, 3-rebound effort of new acquisition Mark Tallo; the 18-point, 4-rebound, 3-assist effort of Kenneth Ighalo; the 12-point, 11-rebound, 6-assist contribution of Arth Dela Cruz; and the 10-point, 10-rebound, 4-assist line of Terrence Tumalip.

It was also Ighalo who forced the extension for the Tigers with a triple with 4.2 seconds remaining in regulation.

Negros adds to Imus woes

In earlier games, Rizal Xentromall thwarted Mindoro, 64-60, while Negros pounded on already-grounded Imus, 75-68.

The Golden Coolers led throughout and by as far as 48-30 before coasting to their ninth win in 16 starts.

Alwyn Alday paced Rizal with 21 points, six assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Rocky Acidre supported him with 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists, and so did Bambam Gamalinda with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Marco Balagtas snagged 21 rebounds that enabled the Golden Coolers to rule the boards, 66-43.

The Tamaraws, who tumbled to 4-12 mainly due to a horrendous 1-of-23 conversion from the three-point zone, got 22 points and 17 rebounds from Jethro Sombero and 11 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals from Kint Ariar.

Meanwhile, the Muscovados improved to 6-10 behind Buenaventura Raflores' 13 points and 11 rebounds and homegrown Pio Longa's own 13 points.

Imus, which remained winless after 16 games, drew 22 points, nine rebounds, and three assists from Orin Catacutan and 20 points, seven rebounds, and four steals from Nemesis Dela Cruz.

The MPBL visits the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna, on Wednesday with a triple-bill pitting Paranaque against Bicolandia at 4 p.m., Sarangani against Quezon City at 6 p.m., and Quezon Province against Binan at 8 p.m.