Rizal shackles GenSan in MPBL Invitational

Andrian Celada

EMKAI-Rizal Xentromall relied on their defense to hold off GenSan, 73-66, in Pool D action at the Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Invitational powered by TM on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Warriors shot just 32.8% from the field against the Golden Coolers, who only had a couple of weeks of preparation for the competition.

However, they had a chance to make game out of it after being down by as much as sixteen late in the third. From a 39-55 deficit, the duo of Ronjay Buenafe and Felix Apreku sparked a 16-2 rally to make it a one-possession game, 55-57 with 6:41 left.

Fortunately for Rizal, Andrian Celada and Jordan Rios made sure Rodney Santos' coaching debut with the team will be a victorious one, each scoring seven points down the stretch to preserve the victory.

Celada would finish with 23 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and a couple of blocks. Rios added sixteen points and nine rebounds.

Mark Benitez added ten rebounds, while Kurt Sunga dished out eight assists.

Santos shared afterwards, "Nagso-sorry nga ako sa mga players because I had to squeeze in my schemes and system in just two weeks. Pagdating lang sa game, dumepensa lang ang gusto ko. Puwede sila magkamali sa opensa pero hindi sa depensa. At the end of the day, yung offense bonus na lang yan." He adds, "Mixed emotion ako kasi going into game, kasi nandun yung pressure. Sabi ko nga sa kanila sa dugout, yung pinakaimportante in a short tournament is win the first game."

Buenafe led GenSan with twenty points, with Apreku netting ten markers. RJ Ramirez added eleven in the defeat.

Team stalwarts Pamboy Raymundo and Gerald Anderson were limited in today's action, with the former restricted to four points and committing three turnovers, and the latter scoring a couple of free throws in just three minutes of action.

Rizal joins Imus atop Pool D and will face Manila on Monday.

The Scores:

EMKAI-Rizal 73 - Celada 23, Rios 16, Serrano 9, Victoria 8, Acibar 8, Benitez 4, Sunga 2, Melegrito 2, Pretta 1, Dela Cruz 0, Villanueva 0.

GenSan 66 - Buenafe 20, Ramirez 11, Apreku 10, Masaglang 9, Raymundo 4, Galoran 4, Saldua 4, Anderson 2, Ongteco 2, Mondragon 1, Nakpil 0, Pangilinan 0.

Quarterscores: 17-11, 35-29, 57-43, 73-66.