Make that six wins in a row for Ray Parks and the rest of the Mandaluyong El Tigre.
The Dataland-backed squad walked the tightrope before surviving the Parañaque Patriots-F2 Logistics, 77-75, in the MPBL Datu Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena.
Ray Parks dished out another solid performance as he knocked in 26 points, on top of six assists and five rebounds to lead the El Tigre to their sixth win in seven games.
Mandaluyong forged a tie for the lead with three other squads in the Northern Division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao, with PBA legend Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.
Mandaluyong, Manila, Bataan and San Juan, which blasted Zamboanga, 80-59, in the nightcap, each carry the same 6-1 slates.
John Wilson poured in 15 of his 23 points in the second half, including a 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc as the Go-For-Gold-supported Knights were able to overcome a slow start to turn the tables on the Valientes.
The Knights outscored the Family’s Brand Sardines-sponsored Valientes in the third period, 24-10, to turn things around. San Juan held Zamboanga without a field goal for nearly a seven-minute stretch in the third period, then unloaded a blistering, 17-0, run to turn a close game into a rout.
“Hindi ko alam bakit masama ‘yung simula namin,” said the ex-Ginebra player. “But I was vocal to them at half time. I encouraged them to give everything they got because we have relievers on this team who can substitute them each time they need a breather.”
The loss was the fourth in eight games for the Valientes, who dropped their second consecutive match.
The team drew inspiration from their visitors – PBA guards Mark Barroca of Magnolia Star Hotshots and Chico Lanete of the San Miguel Beermen, both of whom came from the province of Zamboanga.
But while these two players provided the inspiration for the Valientes, Wilson unleashed the devastation as he poured in 15 of his 23 points for the Knights, who got back on the win column after suffering their first loss in the tournament last time around against the Muntinlupa Cagers-Angelis Resort a few days ago.