Perfect Ramirez shoots Strikers past Sharks

Bacoor—RJ Ramirez’s perfect shooting powered the Bacoor Strikers over the Cebu City Sharks, 88-71, on Thursday as the Strikers sustain their rise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Season at Strike Gymnasum here.

The 6-foot Ramirez, who played in Toronto, Canada, before returning to the Philippines to join the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, scored 17 in the fourth quarter, matching the total output of the Sharks, en route to a game-high 28 that handed the Strikers their seventh straight win and a 15-2 record in the South division of the 31-team field.

It was a flawless shooting display by Ramirez as he drilled all of his 11 field goal attempts, including two triples, plus four of charities. He teamed up with MPBL Datu Cup MVP Gab Banal to bail the Strikers out of a 22-31 hole.

Banal supported Ramirez with 21 points as they combined for 49, besting the combined 42 of Bill McAloney Jr. and Rhaffy Octobre with 23 and 19, respectively. Casino Ethyl Alcohol-backed Sharks fell to 6-10.

Admitting it was the first time he had flawless shooting, Ramirez told sportswriters, “tsamba lang,” during the dinner tendered by the Strikers for the visiting teams.

Earlier, Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines and Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, the biggest gainers in the MPBL’s trading period, dumped separate rivals.

The Zamboanguenos bundled 10 points in the fourth quarter to down the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, 73-59, while the Novo Ecijanos clobbered the Soccsksargen Marlins, 89-50, in the opener.

The Giant Lanterns were within striking distance, 52-59, until Reggie Morido, Hans Thiele and Aaron Black conspired in the telling run that propelled the Zamboanguenos to a 69-52 spread with less than five minutes left.

Zamboanga, with new acquisitions Anton Asistio (who scored 17 points), Black (11) and Alvin Pasaol (10) at the helm, notched its third straight win and jumped to 11-8, also in the South division.

Pampanga skidded to 10-7 in the North division despite Felix Apreku’s 12-point, 16-rebound effort as no other Giant Lantern scored in twin digits.

With five players tallying double figures, the Rice Vanguards won two in a row under new mentor Charles Tiu and revived their playoffs hopes at 4-12, while quashing the Marlins’ aspirations at 0-16.

Tonino Gonzaga and Jai Reyes led Nueva Ecija with 14 and 13 points, respectively, followed by Jimbo Aquino, Marlon Monte and Levi Dela Cruz with 10 each.