All-Star Bacolod completes comeback over Bacoor

Ichie Altamirano

Bacolod nipped Bacoor, 73-71, in their respective Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Invitational powered by TM openers on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

JK Casino converted an and-one off a Paolo Castro to give them a 72-71 lead with 28.4 seconds remaining, with the Centro Escolar University alumnus adding a split from an ensuring foul with 6.8 seconds remaining to make it 73-71. He would finish with eight points and nine assists.

The Strikers had a chance to either force an extension of clinch the victory, but Rocky Acidre missed a triple and Mark Doligon was unable to convert a jumper as time expired.

Bacolod head coach Alex Angeles shared after the game, "Ang pini-preach ko naman sa kanila hindi 'man kami maganda sa papel, pero we make sure magtatrabaho kami sa practice." He adds, "Kumbaga suklian lang namin yung grupo na nagpabalik sa amin sa game. Susuklian namin ng depensa kasi kung nakita niyo may run kami, may run sila pero at the end of the day kung sino yung dedepensa sila yung mananalo. Dun kami nag focus especially nung crunch time."

Ichie Altamirano led the team in scoring with twelve points, whilst adding five rebounds and three steals, all coming off the bench. Kenneth Tulipas netted eight points, while Nhomer Gonzales tacking five points and eleven rebounds, as they snatched a win in a game that saw them trail by sixteen in the third period.

Leading the way for Bacoor in the loss is Richard Albo, who topped all scorers with twenty points, while adding five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. Doligon also provided nineteen points and eleven rebounds, with Acidre contributing thirteen points, four boards, and three dimes.

Bacolod joins Iloilo atop Pool A with a win on their slate, while Bacoor joins Negros at the bottom with their respecitve lone defeats.

Bacolod faces off against Negros at 630pm on Sunday, while Bacoor faces Caloocan on Monday at noon.

The Scores: 

Bacolod (73) - Altamirano 12, Casiño 9, Tulipas 8, Viloria 7, Dionson 6, Montuano 6, Baiquin 6, Gonzales 5, Pastias 4, Soriano 3, Dela Cruz 0

Bacoor (71) - Albo 20, Doligon 19, Acidre 13, Castro 9, Canon 6, Galit 4, Taladua 0, Quilatan 0, Acuña 0, Garcia 0

Quarterscores: 11-20, 31-43, 58-55, 73-71