FORMER two-time Cesafi Most Valuable Player Enrico “Bogs” Llanto put on a scintillating performance to help the 1Bataan-Camaya Coast pull off an 81-78 win over the Navotas Unipak Sardines in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Cup on Friday at the Valenzuela Astrodome.
Llanto, the former University of San Carlos standout, scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds to push Bataan to its 17th win against 10 losses, good for sixth place in the tough Northern Division.
The win did not come easy for Bataan as Navotas tried to make a frenzied comeback down the stretch. Navotas' Mark Guillen went for a split in the charity stripe before Renz Gonzales snuck in a layup to slice Bataan's lead to just three points, 75-78, with 22.3 ticks remaining.
James Castro and Alfred Batino then drained three consecutive freebies to put Bataan back up by five markers.
Not wanting to go down without a fight, Osama Abdurasad drilled a three-pointer with 11.7 seconds left to pull Navotas to as close as two points, 78-80.
Gino Jumao-as iced the game with two more free throws off a foul from Abdurasad. Allan Evangelista launched one last trey for Navotas but missed.
Byron Villarias chipped in 16 points and six boards while Castro had 14 markers for Bataan, who now has a 17-10 card for the sixth spot in the Northern Division.
Meanwhile, Jhong Bondoc paced the Unipak Sardines-powered squad with 17 points and nine boards. Guillen followed suit, providing a double-double performance of 16 points and 11 boards. Abdurasad had 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field.
With the loss, Navotas fell to a 7-20 slate also in the Northern Division.
The Scores:
1Bataan-Camaya Coast (81) -- Llanto 18, Villarias 16, Castro 14, Batino 9, Jumao-as 7, Juntilla 7, Nalos 4, Iñigo 3, Gozum 2, Bregondo 1, Jaime 0, Ortega 0, Gallardo 0, Cudal 0
Navotas-Unipak Sardines (78) -- Bondoc 17, Guillen 16, Abdurasad 14, Melegrito 9, Taywan 7, Gonzales 6, Prudente 4, Cabahug 3, Matillano 2, Andaya 0, Evangelista 0, Soriano 0, Bautista 0, Mamaclay 0,
Quarterscores: 17-24, 39-40, 60-56, 81-78