Pampanga rips Marikina; Bicol scores

Pampanga warmed up for a tough duel with powerhouse Manila by whipping Marikina, 95-69, while Pasig-Sta. Lucia picked up a first home win last Saturday night in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League at Pasig Sports Complex.

Bicol also extended its winning streak to four games after turning back Biñan City, 80-75, behind another huge performance from veteran Ronjay Buenafe.

Robbie Manalang sizzled in the final period where he scored 10 of his 16 points as the Realtors overcame the Pasay Voyagers, 71-68, in front of a huge crowd.

The former Adamson star buried a triple that broke a 61-all deadlock, before putting the game beyond the Voyagers’ reach by nailing another trey for a 70-66 cushion with 27 seconds remaining.

The Giant Lanterns hardly broke a sweat in overpowering the Shoemasters, who absorbed their sixth straight defeat.

Reil Cervantes, who starred in the win over the Bulacan Kuyas last Saturday, played sparingly and finished with 10 points.

The former Far Eastern U standout is already looking forward to the duel with his former team on Friday in Biñan City, Laguna.

“Reil is very motivated but he’s not the only one in the team that wants to win that game,” said Pampanga coach Bong Ramos, whose team improved to 3-2. “It’s going to be a very big test for us.”

Buenafe scored 20 points as the Volcanoes rose to 4-1.