Basilan, Biñan pull off tight victories

MANILA, Philippines — Basilan Streel groped for form and struggled past Sarangani Province, 85-82, in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Season on Saturday at Sta. Rosa Sports Stadium in Laguna.

With the Marlins threatening at 82-83, the Steel needed a 24-second buzzer-beater jumper by veteran Dennis Daa with four ticks left to pull off their sixth straight win and climbed to solo fourth in the South division of the 31-team league now being supported by Chooks to Go.

The Marlins even had a chance to forge overtime, but Jorem Morada’s desperation heave from way out did not go in as time expired.

Basilan, which drew 15 points and 18 rebounds from Cris Dumapig, 15 points and nine rebounds from Daa, and 14 points plus five assists and six steals from Irven Palencia, raised its record to 15-8, trailing only Davao Occidental (19-3), Bacoor (18-5) and General Santos (15-7) in the 15-team South.

The Marlins, who even led at 67-64 on a jumper by Orin Catacutan, fell to 22-1. Catacutan wound up with a team-high 23 points on top of six rebounds while veteran Pari Llagas scored 17 and grabbed eight rebounds.

Binan City Luxxe White Krah staved off Imus Bandera’s finally rally to prevail, 88-83, in the night cap.

The Binan Heroes, who surged ahead at 45-27, saw the Bandera threaten at 75-77 on back-to-back triples by former PBA MVP Jayjay Helterbrand and actor Gerald Anderson.

Jed Mendoza, however, knocked in a triple and Mark Anthony Acosta bunched five points, to repel the uprising and hand the Heroes their fourth straight win for a 10-14 slate.

The Bandera suffered their seventh straight defeat and dropped to 5-20.

The MPBL goes to the Imus City Sports Complex today with Iloilo battling Rizal Province at 4:15 p.m., Bacolod tackling Bicol at 6:35 p.m., and Navotas tangling with Iloilo at 8:45 p.m.