THERE’S no stopping the Bacoor City Strikers.

Although already assured of the top spot going into the playoffs in the highly-competitive Southern Division, the Bacoor Strikers whipped 1Bataan Risers, 93-65, for a league-best 23-5 record in the OkBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) at the Marikina Sports Center on Tuesday.

Thirteen players, led by Mark Montuano, Jhan Mchale Nermal and Alwyn Alday, provided the offensive muscle for Bacoor, which is set to meet the Iloilo United Royals in the opener of their quarterfinal showdown on Saturday, Oct. 7.

Montuano finished with 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting and four rebounds in 13 minutes of action for the Strikers, who led by as many as 29 points over the Risers (13-15).

Nermal and Alday added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

“Happy kaming lahat sa performance ng team kasi eto yun lagi naming pinagusapan na kung ano gagawin namin dito papunta sa playoffs.” said Bacoor coach Alex Angeles.

“Yun performance namin, especially on defense, pati yung box outs at ibang mga little things, talagang ginamot namin kaya lahat kami dito masaya paglaro namin sa playoffs,” added Angeles.

Offensively, all but two of the 15 players fielded in by Angeles managed to contribute in the scoring parade with Jimboy Pasturan and James Canlas Kwekuteye adding nine points each and Kraniel Villoria contributing eight points.

Former PBA player Chito Jaime and Rocky Acidre (seven points each) and Aaron Jeruta and Jammer Jamito (six points each) also helped in Bacoor’s lopsided victory.

Asked about their playoff opponents, Angeles reminded his players to keep their focus and avoid being complacent during the game.

“Actually, ang Iloilo puro mga bata kaya hindi mo pwedeng balewalain. Dito naman sa MPBL ngayon, hindi mo alam kung sino ang mananalo kaya importante lahat ng kalaban dapat respetuhin at gawin mo kung ano kailangan mong gawin para manalo,” explained Angeles.

“Sa team namin, bread and butter talaga is our defense. Kami yun No.1 sa defense sa buong liga kaya yun din ang ipapakita namin sa laban namin ng Iloilo.”

Bacoor City Strikers team manager Dennis Abella echoed Angeles’ observation.

“Ang maganda ngayon, tayo ang No.1 sa South Division. Pero sabi nga, hindi madali yung road to number 1 sa South dahil ang daming pinagdaanan ng team. It’s pure hard work para sa mga players, coaching staff at syempre sa team management at simulapa nung 2018 na sumali tayo sa MPBL,” said Abella.

“Yung experience naman ng team, talagang mahirap. Parang pag-aaral yun na from the beginning wala tayong alam sa pag manage ng team hanggang unti-unting matutunan. And this year pinagpala tayo na makakuha ng magagaling na players at coaching staff, Nakuha na natin yun right formula,” he added.

But Abella clarified that playing basketball is not just about winning and losing.

“Ang mahalaga ay yun laging ibigay ng mga players ang kanilang best para pasayahin yun mga fans sa Bacoor na laging sumusuporta sa team, na siya ding gusto ni Mayor Strike Revilla. Manalo or matalo, para kaming isang pamilya dito sa Bacoor,”added Abella.

The scores:
Bacoor City Strikers (93) – Montuano 12, Nermal 11, Alday 10, Pasturan 9, Kwekuteye 9, Villoria 8, Jaime 7, Acidre 7, Jamito 6, Jeruta 6, Galit 4, Lopez 2, Eguilos 2, Ludovice 0, Yee 0.
1Bataan Risers (65) – Longalong 16, Darang 16, Paguio Jr. 10, Lastimosa 9, Portales 5, Jo.Santos 3 Sombero 3, Je. Santos 2, Bilugan 1, Ramos 0. Quarterscores:22-14, 40-27, 68-46, 93-65.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya