New recruits Almond Vosotros and Jeff Viernes quickly made their presence felt for their respective teams as they came away with big games and led their squads to huge wins in the MPBL Datu Cup.
A player who briefly saw action for Blackwater but spent a long time being part of the national team program either as a rookie or as a pro, Vosotros wasted no time unraveling his game.
Vosotros finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to stop Caloocan’s bleeding and help the team score an 84-75 triumph over General Santos City.
With Vosotros taking charge, the Longrich-backed Supremos were able to snap a seven-game losing skid, winning their third in 11 games.
The Warriors absorbed their sixth loss in 10 games.
Mar Villahermosa led all scorers with 25 markers, but his effort had to give way to Vosotros’ entry into the Supremos camp where the former La Salle Green Archer became the game changer.
“Iba talaga yung impact niya. Not on scoring, but providing leadership,” said Caloocan coach John Kallos. “Dati, lumalaban naman kami, pero pagdating sa endgame, doon kami nagkakaproblema. Ngayon, we have someone who can take charge.”
Like Vosotros, Jeff Viernes, who briefly saw action for the TNT Ka Tropa last season, provided the Batangas City Athletics-Tanduay a big lift in frustrating home team Mandaluyong El Tigre-Dataland, 61-57, in the other game.
Plucked to take over the spot vacated by Bong Galanza, who was released to the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA, Viernes fitted into the system of coach Mac Tan nicely. The spitfire guard knocked in 11 of his 13 points in the second half, while providing stability in the backcourt that allowed the Athletics to get back to the win column.
Batangas has hyet to make it the .500 mark, but the win improved its win-loss record to 5-6.