Bacoor met a surprising tough resistance from Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc. before prevailing, 76-68, on Monday, March 28, and sharing the lead in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.

Mark Yee strikes again for the Bacoor Strikers.

The Bacoor Strikers were expecting a cruise, but instead got some bumpy moments before posting their third straight win as Valenzuela showed marked improvement from its two previous losses, where it bowed by an average of 46.5 points.

Veteran Mark Yee continued to impress for Bacoor with 19 points, 14 rebounds and 3 assists to earn best player honors. He was supported by Jimboy Pasiluran with 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists as the Strikers caught up with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vangards, the Bulacan Kuyas, the Quezon Huskers and the Muntinlupa Cagers.

The Strikers stormed ahead at 43-27, but the Valenzuelans refused to roll over and even threatened at 63-60 midway of the fourth quarter.

New acquisition Carlo Velasco posted 14 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists for Valenzuela, which also got 13 points and 4 rebounds from Johnnel Bauzon and 10 points and 17 rebounds from Michael Angelo Macion.

Meanwhile, Miguel Bagui, an Administrative Aide 1 of the Batangas City LGU, became the first winner of the Suzuki Avenis motorcycle when he made a mid-court shot during the halftime break of the Bacoor-Valenzuela tussle.

The MPBL goes to the Cuneta Astrodome on Tuesday with a triple-bill pitting Sarangani against Manila at 4 p.m., Caloocan against Bulacan at 6 p.m. and Marikina against Pasay at 8 p.m.