GenSan, Zamboanga bolster playoff drive

MANILA, Philippines – The General Santos City Warriors got the boost from one big scoring outburst to subdue the Paranaque Patriots, 80-76, Tuesday night and bolster their playoffs drive in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Ahead by just one, the Warriors clustered 17 points to pull away, 29-11, then thwarted the Patriots’ comeback attempts to extend their winning run to six and climb to fourth place in the South division of the 26-team league.

Meylan Landicho hit three triples, Delmar Mahaling added five points and John Orbeta canned another triple in the scoring spree that raised GenSan’s record to 12-6, trailing only Davao Occidental (17-4), Batangas City (13-9) and Muntinlupa (12-8).

Orbeta wound up with a game-high 21 points plus 12 rebounds, Landicho finished with 16 points, and Mahaling with eight points. They were supported by Jorem Morada with 13 points and seven assists.

The Patriots, despite getting twin digits from four players, suffered their seventh straight defeat and slid to 8-14, virtually out of the running for the eight-team playoffs.

Vinny Dale Begaso tallied 15 points, Paolo Castro and John Monteclaro 12 points each, and Chrsitopher Menguez 10 points plus 12 rebounds.

In the nightcap, Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines drew double-double efforts from Harold Arboleda and Allan Santos to drub the Pasay Voyagers, 91-74, and stay in contention for a playoffs berth.

Arboleda tallied 23 points and 12 rebounds while Santos registered 10 points and 13 rebounds for Zamboanga, which stormed ahead, 88-67, en route to its ninth win against 12 losses.

The Voyagers, already out of playoffs contention, skidded to 7-16.

The 6-foot-2 Arboleda and Santos combined for 14 points and 14 rebounds to negate the 13-point output of Alanes and push Zamboanga to a 43-38 halftime lead.

The MPBL goes to Navotas Sports Complex on Wednesday with the Quezon City Capitals battling the Manila Stars at 7 p.m. and the Navotas Clutch tangling with the Pasig Pirates at 9 p.m.