FELIPE Chavez scored 17 points to lead the Marikina Shoemasters to a 79-67 victory over Bacolod City of Smiles on Tuesday in Season 5 of the OKBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Batangas City Embassy Chill, likewise, opened the season with a win as it routed the Pasay Voyagers, 69-54.
With the young Shoemasters trailing the veteran-laden Bacolod team at 51-55 in the third period, Marikina head coach Elvis Tolentino tapped Chavez to preside over their offense. The 23-year-old prized find from Teresa, Rizal responded by outscoring the entire Bacolod squad, 16-12, the rest of the way.
Chavez, dubbed as "The Elevator" for his uncanny ability to dunk the ball at 5-foot-6, also finished with seven assists, six rebounds, two blocks and one steal in less than 24 minutes of playing time.
Chavez got ample support from homegrown players Jason Opiso, who netted 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Deo Timajo who scored 13 points, the same output as Rian Narra.
Joe Gomez de Liano ended up with three points and five rebounds in his debut for Marikina.
John Cantimbuhan top scored for Bacolod with 15 points and Domark Matillano added 12 points.
Batangas, meanwhile, led by as many as 20 points at 60-40 en route to scoring its first win in this 29-team regional basketball league.
Juneric Baloria paced the Embassy Chill Athletics' balanced attack with 11 points even as Rhaffy Octobre and Mark Justibe Dela Virgen netted 10 points apiece.
Earlier, Zamboanga demolished Valenzuela, 98-54.
The MPBL resumes its games at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex on Thursday for another triple-bill, pitting Bacoor against Manila at 4 p.m., Negros against Mindoro at 6 p.m. and Parañaque against Muntinlupa at 8 p.m.