Clutch, Crusaders post contrasting victories

The Navotas Clutch and the Rizal Crusaders pulled off contrasting wins in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup at Pasig Sports Center Tuesday night.

Returning to form, the Clutch dumped the Pasig Pirates, 97-70, while the Crusaders stopped the Zamboanga Valientes, 77-73.

Pouring a league-record 36 points in the third quarter, the Clutch halted a three-game slide and leveled their slate at 3-3.

The Crusaders, on the other hand, rallied from 11 points down in the fourth quarter to snap the Valientes ‘three-win run and improved their record to 2-5.

With their starters delivering, the Clutch surged to an imposing 80-43 spread ending the third.

Navotas coach Richie Ticzon then decided to let his second stringers finish the demolition that put the Pirates deeper in the cellar at 0-6, the only winless squad among the 26 teams vying in the regional league.

Showing their balanced firepower, five Clutch tallied twin digits with Matthew Salem scoring 14, Gino Jumao-as, Levi Hernandez and Michole Sorela 13 each and Klyde Drexler Neypess chipping in 12.

While it was a cruise for the Clutch, the Crusaders needed to endure a bumpy ride against the Valientes, whose guns went silent except for Reed Juntilla, in the fourth quarter.

“We were able to contain their wing men in the end,” said Braulio Lim, coach of the Xentro Mall-backed Crusaders, who blanked the Valientes in the last minute while coming through with seven points.