Mandaluyong closing in on crown

Game Today (Jose Rizal University Gym) 6:30 p.m. – Mandaluyong vs Quezon City

South champion Mandaluyong produced another strong performance on both ends of the floor to bring down North titleholder Quezon City 82-61 and move within a win of capturing the overall title in the 2017 Metro Basketball Tournament (MBT) Monday at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.

Sandy Ceñal, Prince Allan Liquinan, Angelo Manalac and Cyrus Tabi provided the spark for the Tigers of head coach Johnedel Cardel as they scored 70 of the team’s total output in routing the Stars at the start of the Grand Finals of this tournament organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) thru the Metro Manila Sportsfest and supported by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

The Tigers, who swept their six games in the classification round before beating Pateros in the semis and MMDA in the division finals, can wrap up the title with another victory in Game 2 scheduled today at 6:30 p.m. at the Jose Rizal University Gym in the Tigers’ home city.

Game 3, if necessary, will be played Saturday.

Ceñal, who earned MVP honors during the first MBT All Star-Game last month, led the way with 27 points on a 10-of-17 shooting in 32 minutes of action in the event which has Mobile App ng Bayan Barangay 143 as presentor, myPhone “Bida ang Pinoy” as official mobile phone, Spalding as official ball, and Synergy 88, San Miguel Corp., World Balance, Higer Bus and One World Music and Sports Inc. as major sponsors.

Liquinan added 18 points, including four triples; Manalac contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds; and Tabi had 12 points, six rebounds and two assists.

Jefferson Comia and Roque Estoce carried the fight for Quezon City with 13 points apiece while Arzhar Udjan had 12 points and nine rebounds for the J. Ycasiano-mentored Stars in what could be the penultimate game of the two-month long tournament is also supported by Excellent Noodles, Nature’s Spring Water, 1-Pacman Partylist, Hopewell Sales Corp., Star Bread, Frabelle Foods, Regan Industrial Sales, Inc., Glitter.ph, Alcoplus and Archie’s Bespoke Bar + Grill.

So impressive was Mandaluyong that it overshadowed Quezon City in almost every department of the game.

The Tigers shot better from the floor, hitting 32 of 65 attempts for 49 percent compared to the Stars’ 27-of-90 gor only 30 percent.

In three-point shooting, the Tigers went 8-of-21 (38 percent) against the Stars’ 4-of-26 (15 percent).

Ceñal 27, Liquinan 18, Manalac 13, Tabi 12, Boholano 6, Senires 3, Reyes 3, Dada 0, Tilos 0, Calapine 0, Haboc 0.

Comia 13, Estoce 13, Udjan 12, Salazar 10, Asuncion 5, Antipuesto 2, Barraquias 2, Cortez 2, Padigdig 2, Villacorta 0, Murao 0, Dolotallas 0, Nebre 0.

Quarters: 26-12; 46-35; 70-51; 82-61.