Bacoor subdued Manila, 76-62, for a rousing start in the OKBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League late Thursday at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex.

Led by veteran Mark Yee, the Strikers took control in the third quarter and never looked back to send a strong message that they are out to contend in the 29-team league this year.

Yee, who remains mobile and springy at 41 years old, posted 14 points and 15 rebounds for Bacoor, which also paraded a slew of fresh faces under new mentor Alex Angeles.

With Yee patrolling the paint, the Strikers outrebounded, 47-38, and outscored, 48-24, Manila in the shaded lanes.

No other Striker was able to tally double digits, with new acquisitions Alwyn Alday and Jhan McHale Nermal scoring nine and seven points, respectively.

Lester Reyes, Aaron Jeruta, Mark Montuano, Joel Lee Yu and Chito Jaime also chipped in six points each for Bacoor.

Manila, for its part, drew 14 points and six rebounds from Mark Acosta, but the rest of the Stars faltered with Guilder de la Torre and Clark Bautista coming through with eight points each.

Bacoor thus shared the early lead with inaugural winner Bataan, Quezon Province, Quezon City, Nueva Ecija, Sarangani, Zamboanga, Marikina and Batangas City.

Meanwhile, Negros rebounded from an opening-day loss with a 92-77 victory over Mindoro in the second game while Muntinlupa crushed Parañaque, 73-63, in the night cap.

Powered by Biboy Enguio and Kenmark Cariño, the Cagers built a 41-23 lead and were never headed to serve notice that they were out to contend in this year’s 29-team tournament.

Enguio, a Filipino-Indonesian residing in Alabang, poured a game-high 22 points and snagged eight rebounds to complement the all-around effort of the 6-foot-8 Cariño, the former Gilas Pilipinas cadet who tallied 11 points, 16 rebounds, two assists and one steal in an auspicious debut in the country’s biggest regional league.