Banal lifts Bacoor past Pasig Strikers

Bacoor turned to reigning Most Valuable Player Gab Banal, who delivered back-to-back triples at crunch time to upstage Pasig, 73-64, in the MPBL Lakan Season at the Caruncho Sports Complex in Pasig City late Wednesday night.

With the game still hanging in the balance, Banal presided on his team’s offense. He knocked in a trey in the 1:46 mark of the final quarter to give the Strikers a 68-62 lead then virtually sealed the game for his squad with another three-point basket in the last 51 seconds, towing Bacoor to its third straight win.

Bacoor now improved its win-loss record to 3-1 to move up to third spot of the southern division team standings.

Banal finished with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists while fellow MPBL All-Star Ian Melencio contributed 12 as Bacoor dealt the Sta. Lucia Realtors-backed Pasig squad its second loss in three starts.

Earlier, Biñan City edged Cebu, 85-81, in overtime while Bicol ran roughshod over Marikina, 86-67.

The Krah-Heroes banked on veteran guard Allan Mangahas, who ended up two assists away from completing a triple-double performance. The local boy from San Pedro, a few minutes away from Biñan, tallied 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists while coming off the bench.

Another off the bench player, Kyle Neypes, contributed 12 for the Heroes, who improved their win-loss record to 2-2.

Bicol got back on the winning track after subduing the luckless Marikina Shoemasters as ex-pro Ronjay Buenafe led the way for the expansion squad Volcanoes.

A PBA journeyman, who decided to play in MPBL, Buenafe had 20 points to back up the team’s leading scorer, Jerome Garcia.

Garcia stepped up on offense, drilling in four triples on his way to finishing with 21 to help the Volcanoes attain their second win in four games of the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.