By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno – PNA News
MANILA — Valenzuela weathered a huge push from Pasig in the third quarter and broke loose in the final period to score a 95-88 win in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Datu Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay on Tuesday night.
Up 49-38 at halftime, the Classic saw their lead cut to as short as five points, 63-58, late in the third quarter.
But they responded with four straight points later in the period, setting up their fourth frame breakaway where they would lead by as much as 12.
Ford Ruaya made 24 points on 11-of-17 shooting, nine rebounds, two assists, and one block for Valenzuela, which moved up to 5-9.
Chad Alonzo, not really known for his scoring, added 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting with seven rebounds, one steal, and one block.
Paolo Hubalde, despite struggling with his shooting, still finished with a triple-double with 12 assists, 10 points, and 10 rebounds with six steals.
Mikee Reyes also dished out 12 assists alongside six points and one rebound as both him and Hubalde make up two-thirds of the team’s 36 total dimes.
Jerwin Gaco and Francis Camacho each tallied 18 markers for Pasig, which slipped to 2-11
