MFT Iligan upset Roxas, 80-77, to snap its three-game skid in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Leg on Tuesday at the Pagadian City Gymnasium in Zamboanga del Sur.
Roxas played without leading scorers Jack Hoyohoy and Lester Tamayo as the two already left for the Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Invitational.
Without the two, the Vanguards were motivated in scoring the upset.”As I always say, these guys sacrifice a lot, they had so many struggles on and off the court but they poured their 110-percent all-out effort,” Iligan head coach Kiko Flores said.
Trailing by four, Lugie Cuyos went on a solo 5-0 run–on a triple and a putback–to tow the Archangels to the lead, 73-72, with 2:48 to go.
Nick Abanto answered back with a jumper but Junjun Cecilio regained the lead for Iligan with two charities for a 75-74 count with 2:09 left.
Cuyos, Algeroh Benitez, and playing assistant coach Rendell Dela Rea made five more free throws to seal the deal.
The Archangels improved to 3-8 won-lost but still kept the bottom of the standings.De la Rea had a team-high 19 points–he was 4-of-5 from the line–alongside six rebounds.Cuyos finished with 18 points and eight rebounds while Alexis Rivera chipped in 10 points on a perfect 5-of-5 clip.
Marlon Monte paced the Vanguards with 22 points while James Martinez added 13 points, five assists and four rebounds.Embons Bonleon had in 10 points as Roxas fell to 5-5 at fourth spot.