Navotas shatters MPBL scoring record, drubs QC for 6th seed

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Navotas set a new Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League single-game record in scoring after tripping Quezon City, 120-105, at the Navotas Sports Complex on Thursday night.

The Clutch eclipsed the record set by the Bulacan Kuyas on Sept. 27 which was tied by the Imus Bandera on Dec. 14 thanks to another league record.

Navotas erupted for 40 points in the first quarter behind its three-point shooting, and despite slowing down in the second quarter, the club zoomed again in the third quarter thanks to its outside shooting and dropped 47.

The team already had 103 points at the half-hour mark, the first time in MPBL history that a team already breached the 100-point mark before the end of the third quarter.

The breakthrough basket came with 46 seconds left in the game, when Michole Sorela scored on a layup to put his squad at 118 points, more than the 117 made by Bulacan and Imus in their high-scoring wins.

Fresh from a 33-point outburst at the Manila Stars on Feb. 19, Jai Reyes dropped 32 points on 7-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc with five rebounds, eight assists, and one steal at home for the Clutch, who now claimed the sixth seed in the Northern Division.

Andoy Estrella put up 23 markers, six rebounds, four dimes, and one steal for the Capitals, who will settle for the seventh seed.

The result means the other first round series in the North are now set.

Top-seeded Bataan will face Caloocan, QC takes on second-seeded Makati, and Navotas battles third-seeded San Juan.

The other first round affair between Manila and Bulacan was already settled last week.

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