Fierce and fiery Mandaluyong El Tigre clobbered the Bacoor Strikers, 83-61, Thursday night and continued to rise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup at Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor, Cavite.
Ray Parks Jr. instigated El Tigre’s relentless attack and Joel Cunanan took over from where he left off as Mandaluyong notched its fifth straight win after losing in the inaugurals on June 12.
Showing why he’s the 26-team league’s most celebrated player, the 6-foot-4 Parks sparkled with 28 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals before letting Cunanan, who pumped in 11 points in the fourth quarter, and his teammates finish the job.
With the count at 70-53 going to the last three minutes, many of the Strikers ‘ fans headed to the exits, resigned to their team’s third loss in four outings.
Actor Xian Lim was set in with 2:30 to go in the third quarter and El Tigre ahead, 53-39.
He played for 6 minutes and 30 seconds and posted one rebound, one turnover and three fouls.
The Strikers, who entered the court with a three-win run, got 21 points and 13 rebounds from Mark Montuano, while Gab Banal added 10 points and 6 rebounds.
In a battle between struggling teams,the General Santos Warriors subdued the Cebu City Sharks, 70-66.
Fighting their way back from a 13-point deficit, 60-47, the Sharks threatened at 66-64, following a triple by Patrick Cabahug, and 68-64, after a jumper by Rhaffy Octobre.
Warrior Leomer Losentes calmly canned two free throws with five seconds left, however, to seal their second win in six games.
Losentes and Delmar Mahaling paced the Warriors with 15 points each, followed by John Orbeta with 13.