PAMPANGA Pradera Theme Park sealed a twice-to-beat edge in the Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League 18-Under Luzon Leg after an 88-69 beatdown of Bagong Cabuyao last Sunday at the La Consolacion College Gymnasium in Manila.
With the win, Pampanga raised its slate to 7-0, just a win away from gaining an outright finals berth in the tournament co-presented by SCD and Dumper party-list.
Far Eastern University-Diliman’s Veejay Pre stood at the forefront of Pampanga’s attack, producing 26 points and 11 rebounds.
UST High’s Andrei Dungo added 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists while Pre’s fellow Baby Tam Dwyne Miranda got 11 markers.
Justine Garcia of Adamson High glued things together for Pampanga with 12 assists and eight points.
The Titans of Cabuyao, who fell to 3-4 to fall in a logjam at fourth to seventh with Calamba City, Bulacan, and LDG San Pedro, was led by the 24 points of John Mark Navea.
In the other Luzon Leg games, San Pedro shocked Datzluv Sta. Cruz, 80-67, while Quezon flexed its might against Bulacan.
Quezon, which took solo second with a 5-1 slate with the win, was led by College of Saint Benilde’s Mowell Morales with 26 points and 14 rebounds.
Letran College’s Shad Chang was the high-point man of San Pedro with 20 points.
In the sole NCR Leg game, day, EZ Jersey-Doc Boleros took a share of the lead with Letran-Farm Fresh after a dominant 98-71 win over NBS Kris, who fell to 2-3.
Perpetual High School’s Amiel Acido led Doc Boleros with 25 points and was followed by Markkian Danag (15 points), Renz Sabido (14 points), and Adamson High’s Carlo Bonzalida (14 points, 12 rebounds).
Over at the Valencia Gymnasium & Cultural Center in Bukidnon, CDO Higalas Team B and Meljohns Tailoring did not waste their twice-to-beat advantages in the Mindanao North semis, disposing of Uswag Magpet (108-85) and Rhilapz Notbalz (80-72), respectively.
The top two teams will begin their best-of-three finals clash on Thursday.
Rex Alcover led CDO with 26 points, three rebounds, and two steals while Jessie Puvos shone brightly for Meljohns with 20 points.
