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Ular drops 33 as Marikina repulses Imus' late push

Ato Ular showed his might against the Bandera. MPBL
By Ivan Saldajeno

BINAN--Ato Ular went on a tear on Tuesday night, but Marikina still needed to avert one last push from Imus to take an 89-86 win in the MPBL Lakan Season at the Alonte Sports Arena.

With Ular, who dropped 33 points, leading the way in the no bearing game pitting also ran squads, the Shoemasters raced to an 18-point lead, 50-32, late in the second quarter.

The Bandera, however, picked up the pace in the second half and came to within just three with 7.7 seconds left in the game.

Gerald Anderson then got a steal off the inbound pass from Warren Ybanez and found Jeric Nacpil wide open.

Nacpil, however, came a bit too late about realizing that they need a three to force overtime, leading to an errant pass that was only retrieved by Anderson from almost the halfcourt line. Anderson had to throw up a long heave that only hit the backboard as time expired.

“Yun nga hindi kami nagpapatalo. Maganda yung additions namin and everyone wants to win. Sabi ko kasi we’re preparing for next season and for themselves din, individually preparation din nila ‘yan,” said Coach Elvis Tolentino after the win.

Ular added 15 rebounds for the double-double and two steals, while Yves Sazon added 23 points, four rebounds, and one assist for Marikina, which moved up to 6-19.

Jondan Salvador put up a rare rebound-assist double-double with 17 rebounds and 10 assists along with four points, and one steal.

Playing against his former team, Jay-Ar Ng Sang led Imus, which fell to 6-23, with 15 points and nine rebounds. Gerald Anderson, also playing against his former club, and Jojo Cunanan each added 12 markers.

The Scores:

Marikina (89) – Ular 33, Sazon 23, Espanola 8, Ybanez 6, Gines 5, Salvador 4, Mendoza 2, Casajeros 2, Tambeling 2, Dysam 2, De Chavez 2, Fortuno 0, Padua 0, Pascual 0, Cadorna 0

Imus-Luxxe Slim (86) – Ng Sang 15, Cawaling 13, Anderson 12, Cunanan 12, Helterbrand 10, Nacpil 10, Munsayac 7, Dedicatoria 4, Lim 2, Ong 1, Deles 0, Cantimbuhan 0

Quarterscores: 27-15, 52-35, 68-62, 89-86

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