Makati wards off pesky Pasig for 9th straight win

MANILA, Philippines – Streaking Makati Super Crunch met stiff resistance from the Pasig Pirates before pulling through, 76-71, Tuesday night in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup at Pasig Sports Complex.

The heavily favored Super Crunch relied on better free throw shooting to foil the Pirates’ comeback from 11 points down midway in the fourth quarter and tally their ninth straight win for a 15-4 record in the North division of the 26-team league.

The Pirates hogged the cellar at 3-15, their chances affected by their inability to hit their charities, making only 11 of 25 tries for a poor 44 percent.

Veteran Mark Isip led the Super Crunch with 19 points, followed by Joseph Serafica with 12, and Jeckster Apinan and John Rey Villanueva with 11 each.

“The boys were sluggish,” said Super Crunch Coach Cholo Villanueva. “But I’m happy with the win considering that we came from a three-week layoff.”

The Super Crunch are now tied with the San Juan Knights, just behind pacesetters Bataan Risers (16-2) and the Manila Stars (16-3).

Top Pirate Jerwin Gaco tallied 13 points and 12 rebound, though he missed two crucial free throws in the dying seconds. 

Earlier, the Quezon City Capitals trounced the Mandaluyong El Tigre, 86-76, to keep their bid for a playoff spot in the North division.

Drawing firepower from Joco Tayongtong, Andrew Estrella and Hesed Gabo, the Capitals zoomed away, 65-45, before coasting to their seventh win in 16 starts.

Tayongtong and Gabo wound up with 16 points each while Estrella added 14 for the Capitals of Coach Vis Valencia.

Sustaining the pressure, the Capitals only allowed El Tigre to lead at 3-2 before seizing control until the final buzzer.

El Tigre fell to 7-11 despite five of their players, led by Gian Lloyd Abrigo with 14 points, drilling in twin digits.

The MPBL visits Valenzuela Astrodome on Wednesday with General Santos City battling Davao Occidental at 7 p.m. and Valenzuela tackling Muntinlupa at 9 p.m.