Manila paraded Greg Slaughter and emerged triumphant over Binan, 79-63, on Friday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
The big man who previously played for Fukuoka in the B.League delivered 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists to offset 5 turnovers and was chosen as the best player in his first stint in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
It was far from being a Slaughter show, however, as Carl Cruz and Jan Jamon also shone for Manila SV Batang Sampaloc, which notched its 6th win against four losses.
Cruz posted 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block, while Jamon notched 14 points, including the dagger 3-pointer that pushed Manila ahead, 66-54, with 4 minutes and 25 seconds to go.
Cruz then sealed Binan’s first loss after 6 wins by sinking 2 free throws, capping Manila’s 12-point cluster, 68-54, with only 4 minutes and 6 seconds left.
Binan got 15 points and 5 rebounds from Jimboy Estrada and 11 points from KG Canaleta.
Earlier, Rizal XentroMall nipped Bataan, 87-85, to rise to 6-3.
Kraniel Villoria starred again for the Rizal Golden Coolers with 21 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 steals in 34 minutes and 3 seconds of play. He was ably supported by Keith Agovida with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, while Charles Dela Cruz had 15 points and 5 rebounds.
Marco Balagtas with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, and homegrown John Apacible with 11 points and 3 rebounds.
The Bataan Risers, who dropped to 3-6, got 14 points each from Mitchelle Maynes and Dante Paguio. They also had 13 points plus 8 rebounds from Rhaffy Octobre, and 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists from Robbi Darang.
