Host Caloocan and Makati sustained their winning runs Thursday night even as Marikina finally barged into the win column of the MPBL Lakan Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
The Victory Liner-supported Supremos notched their fourth straight win, this after whipping the SOCCKSARGEN Marlins-Armor On, 93-77.
Rene Pacquiao flexed his muscles, coming away with a double-double performance of 15 points and 12 rebounds as he imposed his will inside the shaded lane to guide the Supremos to the .500 win-loss mark for the first time in the tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.
Caloocan improved its win-loss record to 5-5 and dealt SOCCSKSARGEN its eight straight loss as the team from Mindanao remains the only winless squad in the third season.
Marikina, the erstwhile winless squad, finally made it to the win column, this after the Shoemasters nipped the Valenzuela Classic, 70-65.
Yves Sazon fell a rebound short from posting a double-double performance, finishing with 13 points and nine boards. Daryl Pascual also ended up with 13 markers.
Sazon’s two free throws in the last 13 seconds of the game ensured the win for the Shoemasters, who finally stopped the bleeding after nine games.
Makati stretched its winning run to three following a hard-earned 86-80 triumph over equally formidable Basilan. The Super Crunch picked up their seventh win in eight games to solidify their hold of the third spot.
The Super Crunch won despite getting outrebounded by the Steel, 52-35.
Makati, however, took advantage of Basilan’s miserable free throw shooting. The Steel missed a total of 25 free throws of the 46 they attempted.