MPBL: Cebu, Rizal complete night of upsets
Cebu pulled off a huge upset win over favored home team Manila, 91-86, in overtime to pick up its second straight win in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Lakan Season at the San Andres Gym in Manila late Saturday night.
Patrick Cabahug drilled in 27 points, including five triples, but got plenty of help from his teammates, most notably Will McAloney, Edrian Lao, Victor Nuñez and Michael Cenita who stepped up when needed the most as the Casino Ethyl Alcohol-backed Sharks came back from 15 points down in the first half before completing a win.
McAloney had a double-double showing of 19 points and 14 rebounds while Lao added 11 markers.
Nuñez and Cenita, two unheralded players of Cebu, combined for 16 markers as the Sharks banked on their defense, holding the usually explosive Stars to only 31-percent shooting from the field (26-of-82).
Saturday was a day of upset as even Rizal stunned heavy favorite Muntinlupa, 70-66, to give rookie coach JV Gayoso his first career win 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.
Like the Sharks, the Golden Coolers banked on their defense, putting the pressure on the Cagers team to complete a win in this error-prone match.
The Golden Coolers turned the ball over 28 times, but also forced the Cagers to 24 turnovers.
Known for its firepower, Muntinlupa missed the services of top gun GJ Ylagan, who failed to play as he was busy in the oath taking ceremonies as a newly-elected public official.
Biñan City brought down Nueva Ecija, 98-90, to finally crack the win column of this tournament.