MPBL: Voyagers squeak past Cagers
Pasay edged title contender and home team Muntinlupa, 76-75, in overtime to stay unbeaten after two games in the Mahalika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Season 3 at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex Saturday night.
Unheralded and deceptive forward Elvin Chan knocked in seven of his 11 markers in the extra period as the Voyagers kept the Cagers winless after two games in the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.
Jan Jamon, a holdover from last season’s team, led the way for the Voyagers with 15 points while AA Inigo added 13 markers.
Dhon Reverente, one of the key recruits of the Voyagers in the offseason, had a welcoming of sorts playing in front of the Muntinlupa crowd.
Reverente was part of the Cagers’ squad in the first two seasons in the league but decided to move to Pasay when he learned that long-time coach Keith Martin will be coaching the Voyagers. In his return to the Cagers’ den, he scored 10 points while getting a warm welcome from the appreciative crowd.
Earlier, Harold Arboleda came away with another double-double performance while powering the Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines to their first win in the tournament following an 82-69 win over the Pasig-Sta. Lucia Realtors.
Arboleda ended up with 11 points and 16 rebounds for his 22nd double-double performance, the most by any player in the MPBL.
But Arboleda isn’t the only one who did much damage against Pasig, now under the management of long-time basketball supporter Sta. Lucia Realty being managed by Buddy Encarnado.
Zamboanga’s second unit proved to be too much as it overpowered its counterpart from Pasig, 60-30, on bench production.