Steel, Kuyas too tough for Capitals, Shoemasters

The Basilan Steel and Bulacan Kuyas sustained their rise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Season by beating lower rated opponents late Wednesday at Bulacan Capitol Gym in Malolos.

Powered by Jhaps Bautista, Jay Collado and Gabriel Dagangon, the Steel trounced the Quezon City Capitals, 86-78, while Lester Alvarez drilled two free throws in the last six seconds to ensure the Kuyas’ victory over the Marikina Shoemasters, 81-79.

Both the Steel, toting a 12-8 record in the South division, and the Kuyas, carrying a 12-7 slate in the North division, are on a three-game roll in the 31-team league founded by Senator Manny Pacquiao with Kennth Duremdes as commissioner.

The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards prolonged the Bacolod Master’s Sardines’ woes, 82-76, to revive their waning playoffs drive in the North division.

Crack guards Jai Reyes and James Martinez scored 21 and 19, respectively, as Nueva Ecija posted its third win in its last four games and climbed to 5-13 overall, still behind Bacolod’s 6-12.

Bautista fired 17 points, Jay Collado 13 and Gab Dagangon 13 plus 9 rebounds for the Jumbo Plastics-supported Steel, who gained a share of fifth place with Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines.

Alvarez’s charities put Bulacan on safe ground, 81-77, after the Shoemasters threatened at 77-79 despite a seven-point flurry by the Kuyas.

The MPBL takes a five-day break and will resume on Nov. 5 at Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.