Bataan Risers getting it done with team play in 8-game win streak

Bataan Risers getting it done with team play in 8-game win streak

by rick olivares

Following their conquest of the Cebu Sharks over the last weekend, the Bataan Risers claimed the top spot of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League with an 8-1 record.

The win gives Bataan an eight-match win streak; the longest in the history of the MPBL.

According to league sources, the previous longest win streak was both achieved by the Batangas City Athletics and the Bulacan Kuyas both last season.

The Risers, with its new lineup that includes current Gilas Cadets JJ Alejandro and Vince Tolentino, Byron Villarias, ex-PBA players Pamboy Raymundo and Gary David as well as prized center Jeepy Faundo, stumbled out of the gate with a loss to the Manila Stars in their Datu’s Cup season opener before going into the current streak.

The team rebounded mightily to take down in succession Batangas, the Davao Occidental Tigers, Gen San Warriors, Imus Bandera, Quezon City Capitals, Makati Skyscrapers, Valenzuela Cheesedog, and the Sharks.

“Our win streak isn’t planned,” noted Bataan Risers head coach Jojo Lastimosa. “You go into a game just trying to do all the right things. It is not going to go to plan most of the time, but we end up succeeding.”

“In this streak, we are not only trying to see how far ahead we can win. We only worry about what we can do in the present while figuring out our chances of winning.”

Added Pamboy Raymundo who is second in the team in scoring with 12.56 (behind teammate Byron Villarias’ 12.67 points), “Our win streak is a reflection of our team effort. We come prepared for every game. We help each other so we can achieve this. And gagawin ng Risers ang lahat sa mga susunod na laban.”

A testament to the overall team game that Lastimosa points out is how not one Riser is in the top ten of any of the individual statistical categories of scoring, rebounds, assists, and steals.

Aside from Raymundo and Villarias, the only other Riser in double digit scoring is Gary David who is averaging 11.6 points.

Of the 17 players listed under Bataan (Ervin Grospe is out with a knee injury), nine players have suited up in all nine matches thus far. Two others have played in eight; an indication of how Lastimosa tries to make as much as he can of his bench.

In nine outings, the Risers have averaged 79.8 points while holding opponents down to 72.1 points. Bataan has outscored its opponents 76.6 to 70.0 in the midst of the streak.

Bataan’s next opponent is Pampanga who they play at the Valenzuela Astrodome on October 3.