Bataan banked on Arvie Bringas and Yves Sazon to edge Marikina, 76-73, on Saturday and remain in playoff contention in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season elimination round at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga.
Sazon sandwiched Bringas’ two charities with two free throws and a triple as the Bataan Risers recovered from a 64-66 deficit to gain control, 71-66, with 1 minute and 33 seconds left.
The Shoemasters threatened at 73-74 on a drive by Marwin Dionisio with 13 seconds left, but Sazon came through with two split free throws in the last 7 seconds to hand the Risers their sixth straight win and a 13-12 record in the North Division.
Marikina, on the other hand, saw its victory run snap at seven and drop to 14-11, shakily occupying the magic No. 8 spot in the 15-team division.
Asserting his burly frame, Bringas wound up with game-highs 21 points and 15 rebounds plus 3 steals to earn best player honors over Sazon, who posted 18 points, 10 in the fourth quarter, 4 rebounds and 3 assists for Bataan, which needed to sweep its three remaining games to displace either Marikina or Pasay (14-9) from the playoffs.
James Castro chipped in 10 points for Bataan, which trailed Marikina for 22 minutes and 21 seconds in total and held the rein for only 12 minutes and 14 seconds.
Marikina got 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists from crack guard Felipe Chavez and 13 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals from Dionisio.
General Santos subdued Bacolod, 87-80, earlier, while Muntinlupa dumped cellar-dweller Bicol, 84-58, in the opener.
The GenSan Warriors, powered by John Wilson’s 20 points and 6 rebounds, climbed to 19-6, good for second spot behind Bacoor (20-4) in the South division.
Wilson was supported by Jervy Cruz with 15 points and 6 rebounds and Kyt Jimenez with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals.
Bacolod, which dropped to 10-15, got 14 points from John Cantimbuhan, 12 from Domark Matillano, 11 from Chris Menguez and 10 each from mark Sarangay and Ryusei Koga.
Muntinlupa, riding on JP Sarao’s 20 points and 7 rebounds, improved to 14-10 while burying Bicol to 1-24.
The MPBL returns to the Batangas City Coliseum on Monday with games pitting Bacoor against oriental Mindoro at 4 p.m., Sarangani against Imus at 6 p.m., and Negros against Batangas at 8 p.m.