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| Kurt Sienes exploded in time to carry Pasay past Taguig. Metro League |
By Dugout Philippines
TAGUIG—Pasay upset home team Taguig, 55-50, to join 2017 champion Marikina and Bacoor as opening day winners in the 2019 Metro League Boys Basketball 17-under Division which got underway Saturday at the Hagonoy Sports Complex.
Kurt Sienes sank two triples down the crucial stretch, helping Pasay fend off Taguig’s late rally for a winning start in the South Division of the 13-team tournament that is backed by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) with Barangay 143 as league presentor.
In the other games, Bacoor banked on balanced attack to thrash shorthanded Las Piñas, 86-68, in the South Division while Marikina routed Navotas 78-63 in this M-League that is also bankrolled by Synergy 88, World Balance, Excellent Noodles and San Miguel Corporation as major sponsors.
Up by a lone point, 45-44, Pasay pulled away as Sienes knocked down a trey then followed up Kent Frias’ layup with another three-pointer for a 53-44 lead with 1:44 left in the game.
Taguig went on a six-point run but time was not on its side as Sage Montevirgen's layup with nine seconds remaining sealed Pasay's win.
Sienes paced Pasay with a game-high 24 points on top of seven rebounds and three assists while Montevirgen chipped in a double-double of 10 markers and 12 boards.
McDaniel Castillo was the lone double-digit scorer with 16 points for Taguig, which came back from 10 points down only to fall short in the endgame.
Mikhael James Gutierrez fired a team-high 21 points to go with seven rebounds and two assists while Manuel Pablo finished with 15 markers and nine boards in the triumphant debut of the Junior Strikers.
Pauloh Villarin added 13 points, seven assists and three rebounds even as Rhyle Melencio contributed 10 markers and seven boards also for Bacoor which had a rousing debut in the league that has SMS Global Technologies, Inc. as official livestream and technology partner, Spalding as official ball, Team Rebel Sports as official outfitter, PLDT as official internet provider and Manila Bulletin as media partner.
Jericho Reyes’ 32 points and John Garcia’s 15 markers went to waste as the seven-man Las Piñas slid to a losing start.
Marikina pulled away in the second quarter through an 11-0 run for a 28-16 lead and even posted an insurmountable 69-49 advantage with six minutes left in the match.
Andre Jacob Militar and Jhomel Ancheta topscored with 17 points apiece while Angelo De Guzman tallied 16 markers in the win.
Rommel Mangalindan and Jerwin Villanueva had 15 points each in a losing cause for Navotas.
The scores:
First Game
Marikina 78 – Ancheta 17, Militar 17, De Guzman 16, Cruz 9, Igliane 9, Dayrit 4, Reyes 3, Capones 2, Basilan 1, Avinado 0, Casais 0, Laforteza III 0, Manalac 0
Navotas 63 – Mangalindan 15, Villanueva 15, Dionisio 8, Lizan 8, Balasabas 7, Matias 4, Cu 2, Hughes 2, Javier 2, Castillo 0, Crisostomo 0, Dela Cruz 0, Duguran 0, Mallari 0, Rosal 0.
Quarterscores: 24-16, 40-28, 59-45, 78-63
Second Game
Bacoor 86 — Gutierrez 21, Pablo 15, Villarin 13, Melencio 10, Pecho 8, Porcadas 7, Aranilla 4, Comand 4, Buhay 2, Tomo 2, Bautista 0, Rocha 0.
Las Piñas 68 — Reyes 32, Garcia 15, Montero 8, Lipata 4, Valencia 4, Panganiban 3, Petilla 2.
Quarterscores: 21-24, 40-42, 65-55, 86-68
Third Game
Pasay 55 — Sienes 24, Montevirgen 10, Osorio 8, Ramos 6, Frias 4, Misolas 2, Tamandato 1, Ballonado 0, Capeña 0, Gabriles 0, Perez 0, Soriano 0, Tanao-Tanao 0.
Taguig 50 — Castillo 16, Arceo 8, Makasakit 7, Amaro 6, Cruz 4, Gammad 4, Pizzaro 3, Bernardino 2, Baira 0, Calos 0, Ofianga 0
Quarterscores: 11-17, 29-19, 41-35, 55-50
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