Bacoor, Pampanga, Pasay win

Bacoor, Pampanga and Pasay continued their surge in the Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season Tuesday night at Cuneta Astrodome.

The Bacoor Strikers struck in the homestretch to squeak past the Bulacan Kuyas, 78-76, and post their eighth straight win.

The Pampanga Giant Lanterns, on the other hand, erected a 16-point wall before coasting to an 88-77 conquest of Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol, their sixth in a row.

In contrast, the Pasay Voyagers never let up in a 79-61 conquest of Makati Super Crunch to tally their third consecutive victory.

With a 23-5 record, the Strikers are now assured of a top two finish in the South division as they closed in on the Davao Occidental Tigers (22-4).

Though they led by as big as 45-29, the Strikers, playing without main man Gab Banal, fell dangerously behind at 71-66.

Michael Mabulac, however, scored five and Dennis Canete added three to push the Strikers back on top, 74-71.

The Kuyas, who tumbled to sixth spot at 18-10, have a chance to reverse the outcome, but JR Taguines muffed his triple attempt with only one second left.

Banking on Levi Hernandez, John Dexter Maiquez and Michael Juico, the Giant Lanterns yielded the lead to the Sharks for only 20 seconds and caught up with the Bataan Risers at fourth spot in the North division, where both have 19-9 slates.

Hernandez fired 21 points, Juico contributed 15 points plus 13 rebounds, and Maiquez 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Giant Lanterns being handled by Bong Ramos.

Cebu dropped to 13-14 despite the 17-point, 17-rebound effort of William McAloney and needs to sweep its last three games to remain in contention for the eighth and last playoff slot in the South.

In climbing to 16-12, Pasay, which drew 20 points from Axel Inigo, 12 from Jaypee Belencion, 10 points plus 10 rebounds from Dhon Reverente, and 10 points from Gio Nicolo Lasquety, tightened its hold of eighth place in the North, towing Caloocan (15-13).

The MPBL motors to Batangas State University Gym on Wednesday with Bacolod battling Valenzuela at 4 p.m., Muntinlupa facing Davao Occidental at 6:30 p.m., and Marikina taking on Batangas at 8:30 p.m.