Veteran playmaker Reed Juntilla sustained his fiery form as Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines inflicted more misery on Pasig with a 92-78 drubbing, while Marikina snapped a three-game losing skid in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Datu Cup at Pasig Sports Center on Thursday.
Juntilla finished with 23 points and three steals for the Valientes, who got off to a strong start following an early surge built on Noy Javier’s three triples in the opening half.
The Valientes dedicated their win to the fire victims in neighboring province Jolo that left 30,000 people homeless.
The Shoemasters leaned on a late explosion from Ronald Roy to dump Quezon City Capitals Black Mamba, 78-74, in the first game.
Roy scored all his 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Shoemasters paraded actor Gerald Anderson for the first time. —CEDELF P. TUPAS