The Paranaque Patriots wielded their sharpest form yet and clobbered the Sarangani Marlins, 100-67, on Saturday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
With six players contributing 10 points or more, the Patriots sealed the outcome late in the fourth quarter, 96-60, for their sixth victory against a loss in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Homegrown icon Paolo Castro paced the Patriots with 16 points, spiked by 4 triples, 3 assists and 2 rebounds to earn best player honors.
Lean Vincent Martel backed him up with 12 points and 8 rebounds, followed by another homegrown, JR Olegario, with 11 points and 7 rebounds.
JP Sarao, John Uduba and Alec Lauren Elorde also shone for the Patriots owned by Paranaque Vice Mayor Joan Villafuerte, with 10 points each.
Gang-rebounding, the Patriots ruled the boards, 69-33, which they translated into a 50-20 edge in points inside the paint.
In addition, the Patriots also showed more cohesion with 38 assists against only 15 for the Marlins, who fell to 1-6.
Sarangani got 18 points and 5 rebounds from Megan Galang, 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists from homegrown Jomer Madayag and 10 points from Gino Jumao-as.
The MPBL resumes on Monday, May 13, with another triple bill at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga. The games pit Valenzuela against Imus at 4 p.m., Muntinlupa against Binan at 6 p.m. and Bataan against Pampanga at 8 p.m.