Montaña beats Kwarta Padala

MONTAÑA Pawnshop Davao and Team Bida Laguna turned back separate rivals in the opener of the Mayor Rody and Vice Mayor Inday Sara Duterte Invitational Basketball Tournament before a full-house crowd at the newly-refurbished Almendras Gym on Sunday night.

The Montaña Jewels, fresh from winning the Kaamulan Festival title in Bukidnon, edged visiting M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala (MLKP) of Cebu City, 91-87, while Team Bid Laguna tamed Manny Pacquiao (MP) Pacman Gensan Warriors, 87-77.

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Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte opened the tournament with Davao City Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta and Purefoods assistant coach Ronnie Magsanoc.

The mayor also used the occasion to award cash incentives to Davao City athletes who bagged medals in the Laos Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. The parents and siblings of the Manila-based medalists received the awards.

MLKP raced to a 27-18 lead at the 8:57 mark of the second quarter but struggled to keep momentum as the Jewels of coach of Nick Serafica rallied to snatch a 41-40 lead at halftime.

Mighty six-foot-nine Fred Canlas went on a shooting spree, scoring 10 points, six of them coming off on one-one-one plays, in the early third period as teammates Michael Maniego, Donald Tadena and Ronald Lamocha helped in the offense department.

MLKP, however, hanged on as Bruce Dacia, Abe Santos, Ian Saladaga and Mark Magsumbol combined efforts to force a deadlock at 66-66 at the end of the third quarter.

The Jewels then tightened their defense to break away, 82-78, barely 2:16 left in the final period with the heroics of Paul Guerrero, who opened with a three-pointer, Maniego, Tadena and Lamocha.

Lamocha finished with 17 points while Maniego and Tadena added 16 and 15, respectively for the Jewels.