by Jerome Lagunzad
Games Today (Valenzuela Astrodome)
7 p.m. — Batangas City vs Bataan
(Athletics lead series 1-0)
9 p.m. — Quezon City vs Valenzuela
(Classic lead series 1-0)
Pre-season champion Bulacan and Muntinlupa pulled off a pair of solid victories Thursday night to close in on the Final Four of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Anta Rajah Cup at the Bulacan Capitol gym.
Stephen Siruma dished out 24 points, 17 in the first half, while Jovit Dela Cruz, Jay-R Taganas and Jorey Napoles backed him up as the second-ranked Bulacan Kuyas turned back the No. 7 Parañaque Patriots, 83-73.
Not to be outdone were the third-seeded Muntinlupa Cagers, who defeated sixth-ranked Navotas Clutch, 83-77.
Former pro Chito Jaime had a team-high 19 points while ex-Letran stalwart Felix Apreku tallied 15 points and 11 rebounds but it was guard Allan Mangahas who delivered the biggest bucket, a tie-breaking triple that gave Muntinlupa a 79-76 lead with 36 seconds to play.
Former University of the East stalwart Gino Jumao-as fired 12 points off the bench while ex-Far Eastern University wingman Ron Dennison added 10 points but Navotas sorely missed the presence of top guard JP Calvo, who made just four of his 15 attempts from the field, no thanks to Muntinlupa’s stymieing defense.
Jong Baloria finished with 16 points while fellow Perpetual Help products Gab Dagangon and Harold Arboleda teamed up for 24 points that all went down the drain with Parañaque’s setback.
Action resumes Saturday night at the Valenzuela Astrodome, with the top-ranked Batangas City and host Valenzuela going for the kill against their respective quarterfinal foes.
The Athletics, fresh from an 88-75 win in the series opener last Tuesday, are favored to give the No. 8 Bataan Defenders the big boot in their 7 p.m. showdown.
The Classic, ranked fourth overall, are also eager to do the same against the fifth-seeded Quezon City Capital following a come-from-behind 96-89 victory the last time out.