MANILA—Different team, same old Mark Yee.
The 40-year-old veteran forward showed his vintage form as he steered Bacoor City to a 76-62 victory over Manila in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League season on Thursday night at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.
Yee was hailed as the Player of the Game after finishing with double-double 14 points and 15 rebounds for the Strikers, which absorbed the former players of the Bacolod BingoPlus.
Alwyn Alday chipped in nine markers, while Jhan Nermal and John Lopez contributed seven markers apiece for the Strikers, which is now being handled by former Bacolod head coach Alex Angeles.
After being behind 41-37 at the half, the Strikers turned things around in the third quarter behind Yee, Nermal and Aaron Jeruta for a 45-all score before building a 59-49 edge via connections from Yee, Jeruta and Chito Jaime.
The Stars attempted to come close in the fourth period but a three-pointer by Alday followed by inside connections from Yee and Mark Montuano restored a double-digit lead for the Strikers.
Macky Acosta top-scored for the debuting Stars with 14 points, while Marcy Arellano had 11 assists, nine rebounds and one point in the loss.
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