BATAAN Risers went through the proverbial eye of the needle before beating Sarangani Marlins, 90-80, in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Season 6 basketball tournament at the Kamalig Coliseum in Orion, Bataan.

Yves Sazon, who topscored with 15 points, joined hands with Jamil Gabawan, Mitchell Maynes and Alex Ramos in leading Bataan, which battled back from sevral double-digit deficits to frustrate Sarangani and give coach Manuel Ilagan Jr. a winning start.

Sarangani, which controlled the tempo of the game for nearly 27 minutes, was paced by the 18 points, six rebounds and five assists of Ryan Isaac Sual; 15 points four rebounds, three assists and two steals from Felix John Villafuerte, a nine points from Megan Galang.

In other games,Negros Muscovados waylaid Marikina Shoemasters, 73-62, and Mindoro Tamaraws outstedied Bicol Oragons, 84-81.

Negros leaned on Renz Palma,who finished with14 points, five assists and three rebounds; Jeremy Cruz, who had 12 points; Yvan Ludovice, who had11 pointss; Alvin John Capobres, who had nine points

Mark Atabay, who had eight points and 12 rebounds; and Germy Mahinay, who had five points and 13 rebounds.

Miguel Castellano carried the fight for Marikina with 14 points and eight rebounds, followed by Joe Gomez De Liano with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Teytey Teodoro was the top scorer in Mindoro’s victory over Bicol.

Teodoro, who played for NCAA team Jose Rizal University, scored the Tamaraws; last eight points, including two pressude-packed free throws with only 7.4 seconds left.

Overall, Teodoro finished with a game-high 19 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 20 minutes of action.

Teodoro was later named as “Best Player” of the game.

Also stepping up for Mindoro of coach JR Cawaling are Ken Bono (15 points, seven rebounds), Andres Desiderio (14 points, nine rebounds and five assists), Jordan Rios (12 points, eight rebounds) and Ralph Olivares (nine points, six rebounds).

The victories enabled Bataan, Negros and Mindoro to join Saturday’s opening-day winners Zamboanga and Abra.

The MPBL visits the Villar Coliseum in Las Piñas with a triple-bill pitting Bacolod against Iloilo at 4 p.m., Pampanga against Rizal at 6 p.m.,and Manila against Parañaque at 8 p.m.