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| Topeng Lagrama's perfect game was the main offensive highlight in Quezon's defensive masterpiece against Muntinlupa. MPBL |
MANILA--Quezon limited Muntinlupa to the second-lowest total score the MPBL has ever seen in an 88-31 blowout win on Thursday night at the Orion Sports Complex.
The total points scored by the Cagers throughout the entire game nearly overshadowed a perfect outing from Husker Topeng Lagrama as they barely escaped more infamy by just three points.
Looking to bounce back after a stinging home loss to Nueva Ecija on Saturday night, Quezon vented ire on Muntinlupa, holding them to only 11 points in the first half and without a field goal in the second quarter.
The Cagers looked to be on track to set the new MPBL all-time low until they played better offensively in the third quarter, bettering their entire first-half output with 13 points in the said quarter, but the Huskers' win was just a formality away by that time.
A free throw from Macoy Marcos and a jumper from Galicia early in the fourth quarter assured that the lowest output in an MPBL game ever would still be Zamboanga's 28-point performance against Davao Occidental in the Season 3 playoffs, but Muntinlupa only scored one point, a split from Jasper Cuevas, in the final 7:25 of the game.
Lagrama went 5-for-5 from the field including 4-of-4 from long range for 16 points off the bench with three rebounds, two assists, and three steals for Quezon, which reopened a half-game lead over Zamboanga for the South Division top seed by moving up to 19-5.
Gab Banal added 11 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Cuevas and Galicia each tallied six markers for also-ran Muntinlupa, which fell to 7-19.
The second game saw the Rice Vanguards whipping the South Cotabato Warriors, 94-75.
Just like the Quezon-Muntinlupa game, Nueva Ecija turned to their defense early on and held South Cotabato to just eight points in the first quarter.
Although the Warriors would get their offensive groove the rest of the way, the Rice Vanguards were just too much.
Robby Celiz put up 20 points on 9-of-14 field goals, six rebounds, and five assists to lead Nueva Ecija, which moved up to 21-3, two and a half games behind San Juan for the top seed in the North.
MJ Ayaay added 13 points on 5-for-8 field goals, two rebounds, and one assist off the bench.
Jervy Cruz and Cris Dumapig each scored 12 points for South Cotabato, which dropped to seventh place in the South standings at 15-11 as the team probably kissed its hopes of gaining homecourt edge in the playoffs goodbye.
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