Kuyas edge Athletics

The Bulacan Kuyas withstood the Batangas City Athletics’ final assault to prevail, 82-81, and rev up their playoff drive in the Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Season late Wednesday at Olivarez College Gymnasium in Parañaque.

Comfortably ahead, 79-67, going into the last two minutes, the Kuyas were jolted by a 10-point salvo of Jeff Viernes and Jason Melano.

Lester Alvarez canned a free throw and Aden Diputado scored on a layup to cushion the four-point windup of Dan Sara and Genmar Bragais and hand Bulacan its third straight win for a 15-8 record in the North division, where the top eight will advance to the playoffs.

The Athletics, the inaugural Rajah Cup champions, suffered their second straight defeat and fell to 13-9 in the South division, where eight teams will also advance.

Homegrown Dennis Santos powered the Kuyas to their third straight win with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists while John Ray Alabanza fired 13 points and Diputado finished with 12.

Batangas drew 23 points and eight rebounds from Melano, 14 points from Viernes, 13 from Jayson Grimaldo and 11 from Bragais.