HOME sweet home for Valenzuela.

Playing at their home court for the first time this year, the Valenzuela Classics trounced the Bulacan Kuyas, 98-70,in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round on Thursday at the WES Arena in Valenzuela City.

Ryan Trazona came through with 16 points, including three triples, and Fil-Am CJ Payawal added 13 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and two steals as Valenuela stormed to a 30-point spread, 98-68, enroute to its sixth win in 19 matches in the prestigious 29-team tournament dubbed as “Liga ng Bawat Pilipino”.

Michael Angelo Macion,a pillr of strength inside the paint, added 13 points and six rebounds for the Classics.

Homegrown Jameson Hiro and Darell Manliguez contributed eight points each for Valenzuela, which completely dominated Bulacan in all four quarters.

Bulacan skidded to 1-9 despite the 32-point, 7-rebound, 7-assists effort of former Valenzuela star Paolo Hubalde.

Ralph Manzo had 11 points.

Sharing the limelight were Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, who routed Bacolod City of Smiles, 95-77, to raise their record to 7-0 and Muntinlupa Cagers, who subdued Sarangani Marlins, 75-71, to improve to 2-7.

Billy Robles scattered 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block and JB Bahio posted 11 points, 12 rebounds and four assists for Nueva Ecija, which had all 14 players score two points or more.

Rob Celiz added 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks for the Rice Vanguards, who led 90-68.

Bacolod, which dropped to 1-8, got 14 points from Jacob Galicia and 12 from Danny Marilao.

In the opener, the Muntinlupa Cagers surged ahead, 67-51, and used it as a buffer to repulse the Marlins’ final assault.

Jaspar Derek Cuevas led Muntinlupa with 14 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals, while Errol Jay Bongay added 12 points and six rebounds.

Ryan Sual carried the fight for Sarangani with 27 points and five rebounds, followed by King Destacamento with 10 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and three blocks, and Jomar Madayag.with 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

The scores:

First game

Muntinlupa (75) — Cuevas 14, Bongay 12, Marcos 9, Guiab 8, Sombero 8, Flores 7, Buenaflor 6, De Leon 4, Acidre 4, Arenal 2, Moralde 1, Magbuhos 0, Capacio 0, Longalong 0, Gonzales 0.
Sarangani (71) — Sual 27, Madayg 11, Destacamento 10, Alves 9, Kawamura 5, Callano 3, Peralta 2, Jumao-as 2, Galang 1, Roque 1, Gaa 0, Clarino 0, Diputado 0, Oftana 0, Bulawan 0.
Quarterscores: 15-17, 43-33,60-51, 75-71.

Second game

Nueva Ecija (95) — Robles 19, Celiz 11, Bahio 11 Collado 9, Mocon 8, Costelo 7, Juico 6, Derige 6, Cosejo 5, Bitoon 5, Arenas 2, Duremdes 2, Calo 2, Magbuhos 2, Balucanag 0.
Bacolod (77) — Galicia 14, Marilao 12, Ubalde 8, Pastias 7, Peromingan 7, Manalang 7, Casinilio 6, Espanola 5, Galit 4, Pardo 4, Partosa 3, Ramos 0, Solomon 0, Sabellina 0, Salcedo 0,
Quarterscores: – 27-16, 48-35, 70-62, 95-77

Third game

Valenzuela (98) –Trazona 16, Macion 13, Payawal 13, Manliguez 8, Hiro 8, Armenion 7, Gotladera 7, Lepalam 5, Dela Cruz 5, Quinahan 5, Rivera 3, De Chavez 3, Boliver 2, Santos 0.
Bulacan (70) — Hubalde 32, Manzo 11, Ibanez 8, Celis 5, Hernandez 5, Carandang 5, Montero 2, Mallari 1, Baltazar 1, Dada 0, Andales 0, Ajro 0, Viernes 0, Santiago 0
Quarterscores: 28-16, 53-34, 73-57, 98-70.