Slaughter lifts Manila
MANILA SV Batang Sampaloc hit full throttle in the second half and routed Marikina, 91-76, on Wednesday to accelerate its drive in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Cuenta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Powered by Greg Slaughter, Jan Jamon and Tonino Gonzaga, the Manila Stars stormed ahead, 89-67, with less than five minutes left en route to their 14th win against 5 losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Gonzaga wound up with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, Slaughter posted 17 points, 13 rebounds plus 4 assists, and Jamon contributed 15 points and 2 rebounds, which also drew 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists from Enzo Navarro.
With Slaughter asserting his 7-foot frame inside, Manila ruled the boards, 56-30, and exploited it to score more second-chance points, 26-9.
The Marikina Shoemasters, who dropped to 6-13, got 19 points and 4 rebounds from Eric Joseph Pili, 14 points, 4 assists, 4 steals, plus 3 rebounds from Ahron Estacio, and 11 points and 5 rebounds from homegrown Jomel Landayan.
In other results, Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, the 2022 MPBL champions, trounced the Valenzuela Classics, 93-83, while Pasay Voyagers thwarted the Parañaque Patriots, 78-72,
The MPBL goes to the Kamalig Gym in Oriuon, Bataan with games pitting Rizal against Davao at 4 p.m., Bacolod against Batangas at 6 p.m., and San Juan against Bataan at 8 p.m.
