BUOYED by its home crowd, Pasay extinguished Quezon Province's hot streak with an 84-81 victory on Friday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Laurenz Victoria scored the Voyagers' last five points to complete what Axel Inigo and Warren Bonifacio started, as they handed the Huskers their first loss after 16 wins in the eliminations of the 29-team tournament.
As such, Quezon yielded the top spot to the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, who are on a 17-game roll after an initial loss.
Powered by Inigo's 19 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and two steals, Bonifacio's 15 points and four rebounds, and Victoria's 13 points and five assists, Pasay climbed to 12-7 and boosted its bid for the playoffs.
Other Voyagers who delivered were Dhon Reverente with 11 points and 15 rebounds, Brian Wendel Hilario with 11 points, and AJ Coronel with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Huskers crawled out of a 48-65 hole to move within 76-81, but Victoria's three-point play eased the pressure on Pasay with a minute and a half left.
Still, the erstwhile league-leaders had a chance to extend the game, but Xyrus Torres missed his triple try before the buzzer.
Quezon got 14 points from Judel Fuentes, 13 points - all but three coming in the last five minutes - plus five assists from Topeng Lagrama, and 12 points, including three triples, from Lucena City Mayor Mark Alcala.
Big wins for Abra, Zamboanga
In other games, Abra subdued South Cotabato, 73-64, and Zamboanga Master Sardines bested Quezon City TODA Aksyon, 89-85.
The Weavers, sparked by Joseph Sedurifa's 10 points and eight rebounds, rallied from an early 5-23 deficit to improve to 11-7, while also pulling down the Warriors to 13-6.
It was a collective effort for Abra with Mark Yee contributing nine points plus 10 rebounds, Michael Canete and Wendell Comboy adding eight points each, and John Lloyd Clemente chipping in seven points.
South Cotabato drew 11 points from Val Acuna and 10 from Jammer Jamito.
Zamboanga, meanwhile, rose to 15-3 behind Jaycee Marcelino's 16 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, Renzo Subido's 17 points and four rebounds, and Adi Santos' 10 points plus eight rebounds.
QC fell to 8-11 despite the 21-point effort of JP Cauilan, the 11 points and nine rebounds output of Jason Ballesteros, and the 12 points of Brandrey Bienes.
The MPBL goes to the Bataan People's Center on Saturday with games pitting Mindoro against Davao at 4 p.m., Binan against Rizal at 6 p.m., and Paranaque against Bataan at 8 p.m.
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