General Santos leaned on seasoned John Wilson to foil Paranaque, 89-83, on Tuesday and rev up its drive in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (Fifth Season) at the Ynares Sports Arena.
Pasig City followed suit by repulsing Marikina’s final assault and prevailing, 71-66, in the nightcap of another triple bill in the single round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Flashing the form that made him the MPBL Lakan Cup MVP, Wilson fired 33 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter that enabled the GenSan Warriors to regain control after the Paranaque Warriors clawed back 10 points down 56-66) and moved ahead, 82-81, following a triple by Joshua Gallano with 1 minute and 15 seconds to go.
Paranaque couldn’t score after that, however, while Wilson drove in twice, Nico Elorde added two charities and Felix Apreku the final basket to push the Warriors to their 11th win against four losses while pulling down the Patriots to 7-10.
Wilson also posted 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists to emerge the game’s best player. He was supported by Larry Rodriguez with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, plus 2 steals, and Jervy Cruz with 12 points and 6 rebounds.
Gallano ended up with 15 points and 5 rebounds for Paranaque, which also got 14 points from Keith Pido and 13 from Pari Llagas.
Like GenSan, Pasig City MCW Sports appeared headed for a cruise, 66-53, midway through the fourth quarter. The Marikina Shoemasters refused to give up, however, and threatened at 66-68 following a short jumper by Felipe Chavez with still 1 minute and 25 seconds left.
Pasig silenced Marikina the rest of the way and secured its 11th win against 6 losses with a basket from Robbie Manalang and a free throw from Michael Maestre.
Kenny Roger Rocacurva led Pasig with 18 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks, followed by Maestre with 12 points and 10 rebounds, Manalang with 12 points plus 4 assists, and Jason Ballesteros with 9 points plus 16 rebounds.
Marikina, which fell to 7-10, got 16 points, 7 assists and 3 blocks from Chavez and 10 points from Marwin Dionisio.
Bicol finally ended its long futility record with a 96-93 victory over Oriental Mindoro in the opener.
With James Martinez posting a triple-double of 15 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds and Wowie Escosio carding 24 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists, the Bicol Volcanoes surged ahead, 84-66, to secure their first win after 16 losses.
Mindoro dropped to 3-14 despite the 17-point, 13-assist, 8-rebound, 5-steal effort of Paolo Hubalde, the 21 points of Agem Miranda, the 18 points of Rodel Vaygan and the 17 points plus 9 rebounds of Kristan Hernandez.
The MPBL goes to the Bacoor Strike Gym on Thursday with Caloocan battling Laguna at 4 p.m., Sarangani tangling with Muntinlupa at 6 p.m., and Makati testing Bacoor at 8 p.m.
