MPBL: Athletics continue climb; Crusaders rip Shoemasters

BATANGAS CITY — Slowly but surely, the Batangas City Athletics are getting back to form.

Playing before local fans who braved the intermittent rains, the Athletics turned hot in the fourth quarter and subdued the Caloocan Longrich Supremos, 81-69, Thursday night in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup at Batangas City Coliseum.

It was the first back-to-back victory for the Tanduay-backed Athletics, ruler of the inaugural MPBL Anta Rajah Cup, who raised their record to 4-5.

Tey Teodoro and Dennice Villamor conspired in a lethal 10-point cluster that virtually doomed the Supremos to their sixth straight loss, 72-57, and a 2-7 card with 4:04 to go.

The Athletics sealed the outcome at 75-58, with Teodoro finishing with 23 points, just a point shy of his MPBL career-best, four rebounds and four assists. Villamor, on the other hand, scored all of his nine points in the fourth quarter.

Big man Jhaymo Eguilos and Paul Varilla added 11 points each while Adrian Santos chipped in 10 for the Athletics of Coach Mac Tan.

Only Jess Villahermosa scored in twin digits for the Supremos, whose composure wavered in the homestretch when Jessiry Pedrosa was slapped an unsportsmanlike foul following a loose ball scramble entering the last five minutes.

Earlier, the Rizal Crusaders withstood the Rizal Crusaders final rally to prevail, 75-69.

Marco Balagtas presided over the Xentro Mall-backed Crusaders' third win in 10 starts with 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

The 6-foot-2 Balagtas was supported by Eric Dela Cuesta and Marvin Mercado with 11 points each, although it was Popoy Banzali who defused the Shoemasters' fightback from 70-59 down with a clutch jumper.

Marikina, which lagged behind at 21-37, got 24 points from veteran Erwin Sta. Maria and 11 points and a career-high 20 rebounds from homegrown talent Jay-Ar Ng Sang.

Actor Gerald Anderson saw action for the Shoemasters, who dropped to 4-5, and wound up with five points, three rebounds and two steals.

On Saturday, the MPBL goes to Ynares Center in Pasig with a doubleheader pitting the Bataan Risers against the Cebu City Sharks at 6:30 p.m. and the Makati Skyscrapers against the Valenzuela Classic at 9 p.m.