Cebuanos shine as Bataan trips Manila in MPBL

Cebuano wingman Reed Juntilla scored 15 points to lead the Bataan Risers past the fancied Manila Stars, 77-76, in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season, at the AUF gym on Thursday, January 9, 2020.

Juntilla, a former University of the Visayas Baby Lancer, was especially deadly in the second period when he scored 11 points in a 15-0 binge that helped give Bataan a 30-16 lead. Juntilla added four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in just 18 minutes of action.

However, it was former pro Chito Jaime that helped give Bataan the win with heads-up plays on both ends of the floor. Down by a point, 75-76, the 6-foot-4 forward shot in the go-ahead post shot with 56.8 ticks, 77-76, before teams exchanged misses.

Jaime then followed it up with a huge stop, deflecting the ball away from Aris Dionisio with 1.2 seconds left to secure the win.

Two other Cebuanos also shone for Bataan as former Southwestern University-Phinma guard Joseph Nalos had 11 points four rebounds and five assists while former two-time Cesafi MVP Enrico Llanto chipped in 10 points and three rebounds.

Bataan moved to fifth place with a 16-9 win-loss record.

Former PBA guard Carlo Lastimosa delivered 19 points while Dionisio stuffed the stat sheet with 17 markers, six boards, six blocks, two assists and two steals as Manila slipped to 21-5, half-a-game ahead of third-place Makati. (JNP)