Bulacan torches Rizal; Makati triumphs

Makati coach Cholo Villanueva has learned enough to teach his team the ins and outs of pressure defense.

“You can’t teach what you don’t know,” said the former La Salle standout in the UAAP. “And (playing pressure defense) is something I’ve been teaching from the years of experience playing and being an understudy of the Pumarens (Franz and Derrick).”

Makati proved it had a grasp of what had been La Salle’s calling card during the Pumaren years, forcing 34 turnovers on a bewildered Basilan squad for a 77-65 victory Tuesday night in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League at Baliuag Star Arena in Baliwag, Bulacan.

Makati drew 38 points from those Basilan error to come up with a smashing performance that rivaled that of home squad Bulacan, which crushed Rizal, 80-61.

“We’ve prepared hard this season, knowing that we’ll be facing strong teams along the way,” said Bulacan coach BrittReroma. “But we just want to improve day-by-day.”