Nermal shines as Bacolod edges Imus in MPBL Mumbaki Cup
Bacolod-Bingo Plus kicked off its 2022 MPBL Mumbaki Cup season campaign with a 67-57 beating of Imus BanderaGLC Trucks and Equipment on Monday night at the San Juan Arena.
Jhan McHale Nermal was hailed as the Player of the Game for the debuting Bacolod with 17 points, all scored in the last two quarters, to go with eight rebounds.
The Kabankalan Citynative Nermal, who briefly played for the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA 3x3, played a huge role for the Bacolodnons as they overcame a slow start en route to a 1-0 start.
Negrense Jeramer Cabanag also hit doubledigit on offense for BacolodBingo Plus with 12 points, while Edrian Lao and Ilonggo Aaron Jeruta chipped in with nine and seven, respectively.
It was a quick turnaround for the Bacolod-Bingo Plus after being booted out from the semifinals round of Filbasket last Sunday after being swept by Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards.
“This is a good start for us but we still have a long way to go here in MPBL Mumbaki Cup. We will keep on striving to get better,” said BacolodBingo
Plus team manager Leo Bat-og.
Ian Melencio was the lone double-digits scorer for Imus Bandera with 18 points, while Egie Boy Mojica and Leomar Najorda added nine and eight, respectively.
It was the second consecutive defeat in as many games for the exPBA cagers-composed Imus Bandera, which also lost to Batangas City Embassy Chill last week, 76-56.
In the first game, Valenzuela City Mjas Zenith recovered from their opening day defeat as they toppled debuting Mindoro Tamaraws, 79-67.
Jaymar Gimpayan was hailed as the Player of the Game for Valenzuela City with his double-double 21 points and 17 rebounds to go with three assists.
BOX SCORE:
BACOLOD 67 – Nermal 17, Cabanag 12, Lao 9, Jeruta 7, Alday 5, Lee Yu 4, Albo 3, Villoria 2, Ilagan, Casiño 2, Solis 2, Tulipas 2, Garcia 0, Pastias 0.
IMUS 57 – Melencio 18, Mojica 9, Najorda 8, Galicia 7, Salamat 5, Racho 5, Bragais 2, Villanueva 2, Pacquiao 1, Mangahas 0, Serrano 0, Celada 0, Rosagas 0, Ong 0./