By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/ PNA
MANILA — The Bataan Patriots survived a first half explosion from Paolo Castro and pipped the Parañaque Risers, 102-73, in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Datu Cup at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga on Thursday night.
Castro set a league record for a half after scoring 23 points in the first 20 minutes, and the also-ran Patriots was on track of dealing the league-leading Risers a huge upset on the road, just trailing by three, 44-47, at halftime.
However, Bataan shut him and the rest of Parañaque down in the final two quarters, outscoring the visiting side, 55-29, to give its fans another reason to cheer.
Gab Dagangon made 21 points and five rebounds in just 16 and a half minutes for the Risers, who moved up to 22-2.
Byron Villarias chipped in 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals off the bench.
Castro was held to just a point, a free throw late in the fourth quarter when the outcome was all but settled, in the second half and only came up with 24 markers alongside seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal for the Patriots, who slipped to 8-16.
The result knocked Biñan out of playoff contention, giving Imus, which owns the tiebreaker over the former due to its 67-65 win on November 8, the last playoff seat in the Southern Division.
