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| Eric Joseph Pili shines for the Marikina Shoemasters. MPBL |
PASAY--Manila displayed depth and firepower in a 93-68 rout of Negros on Thursday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Cuneta Astrodome.
With 13 of the 15 players fielded scoring, the Manila SV Batang Sampaloc Stars led by as far as 88-60 before coasting to their 16th win against 6 losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Tonino Gonzaga paced Manila with 20 points and 4 rebounds, followed by 7-footer Greg Slaughter with 13 points and 12 rebounds, James Sena with 11 points, and Carl Bryan Cruz with 9 points and 9 rebounds.
Outrebounded (39-55) and outshot on both field goals (31 to 46.6 percent) as well as free throws (70.4 to 82.4 percent), Negros dropped to 11-13 as only Jan Formento struck back with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Earlier, the Marikina Shoemasters tripped the Mindoro Tamaraws, 76-72, to improve to 7-14.
Eric Joseph Pili shone for Marikina with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, and so did Jomel Landayan with 12 points, 4 steals, and 3 rebounds, and Marlon Basco with 11 points and 7 rebounds.
Mindoro tumbled to 7-16 despite Jhon Jerrick Caspe's 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, and Kint Ariar's 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.
The MPBL goes to the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando on Friday with a triple bill pitting San Juan against Imus at 4 p.m., South Cotabato against Sarangani at 6 p.m., and Iloilo against host Pampanga at 8 p.m.
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