Bacolod City of Smiles survived Sarangani’s double assaults to prevail, 84-81, on Wednesday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Paco Arena in Manila.
The Bacolenos led by as many as 21 points twice, but the Marlins fought back to come closer after the third quarter and threaten at 81-82 with still 1 minute and 1 second to go.
Bacolod won’t be denied, however, with Tricky Dyn Peromingan sinking two charities for the final count with only four tenths of a second left.
It was Bacolod’s first win in three games, matching the record of Sarangani in the round-robin elimination round of the country’s top regional league.
The count was tied at 24 after the first quarter, but Bacolod found its mark and Sarangani misfired in the second, enabling the Bacolenos to break free, 53-34, at halftime.
Homegrown LA Casinilio shone for Bacolod with 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, followed by Jacob Galicia with 11 points plus 10 rebounds, and Tricky Dyn Perominan with 12 points and four rebounds.
Sarangani got 23 points, three assists and two steals from Ryan Sual, while Jomar Madayag carried the fight in the second half and ended up with 17 points and eight assists.
Bacolod stormed ahead, 62-41, midway through the third quarter, but Sarangani, with Madayag at the helm, countered with a 15-2 run to creep closer, 56-44.
The MPBL goes to the Caloocan Sports Complex on Thursday with a double header pitting San Juan against Marikina at 4 p.m. and Paranaque against Iloilo at 6 p.m. The 8 p.m. game between Caloocan and Tarlac got canceled after the MPBL revoked Tarlac’s franchise for failing to settle its financial obligations.
