by Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/PNA
The Manila Stars pipped the Bulacan Kuyas, 69-65, at the start of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Playoffs at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga on Tuesday night.
Despite a sluggish second quarter, where it only scored five points, and a third quarter threat from Bulacan, Manila recovered and even took a 60-52 lead with 4:32 to play in the fourth.
The Kuyas had one final push, trimming the lead to just three, 61-58, with 2:15 to go, but John Lopez scored three points in succession to keep the Stars afloat as both sides only exchanged baskets in the end.
Aris Dionisio put up 11 points, 17 rebounds, three assists, five blocks, and four steals to lead Manila, which took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series.
Gwynne Capacio had a career-high 23 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and one steal for Bulacan.