Defending champion Pampanga thwarted Pasay, while inaugural titlist Batangas escaped Quezon City on Monday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Powered by reigning MVP Justine Baltazar and his 21-point, 20-rebound double-double, the Giant Lanterns bested the Voyagers, 70-65, in the nightcap and climbed to a 7-1 card, the same card as the Batangas Tanduay Rum Masters, who rose from the grave to force overtime and nip QC TODA Aksyon, 76-73.
Baltazar an unstoppable force
The 6-foot-8 Baltazar was virtually unstoppable and also tallied two assists to spearhead the Giant Lanterns, who also drew 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals from Kurt Reyson. Homegrown MJ Garcia provided support with nine points and three rebounds.
Pasay, though, even led, 38-33, early in the third quarter before Reyson found his range and poured 11 points to push Pampanga ahead, 50-48, at the end of the period.
Routed off the boards, 39-57, the Voyagers tumbled to 5-3 despite the 14-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist effort of Laurenz Victoria; the 13-point, 5-rebound output of Warren Bonifacio; and the 11-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist, 3-steal line of Patrick Sleat.
Trailing 53-61 with only 45.1 seconds to go in regulation, the Rum Masters dropped 10 points on a triple by Levi Hernandez, a four-point play by Jong Baloria, and another trey by MJ Dela Virgen against two free throws by Paeng Are to knot the count at 63.
Hernandez and Dela Virgen then hit back-to-back triples to take control, 72-67, with 2:08 to go in overtime. Quezon City moved to within 73-74 following two charities by Abdul Sawat, but Hernandez responded with two free throws of his own to seal Batangas' victory and pull down QC to 3-5.
Pampanga and Batangas are right behind 6-0 pacesetters Binan, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, and San Juan in the standings.
MPBL: Batangas pulls off great comeback against QC in overtime
In the opener, the Negros Muscovados blitzed the Iloilo United Royals in the second quarter en route to a 72-66 victory that raised their record to 4-5.
The game was tight, 17-14, until Negros, powered by the nine points of Bill Geolingo and the back-to-back triples of Jeremy Cruz, poured 28 points against Iloilo's eight to pull away, 45-22, and was never threatened the rest of the way.
Cruz wound up with 15 points, nine rebounds, and two steals, followed by Jefferson Comia with 11 points plus nine rebounds, and Hubert Cani with 10 points and three rebounds.
Making only 1-of-17 triple attempts, Iloilo tumbled to 2-6. The Royals got 14 points and five rebounds from Gwyne Capacio; 13 points, seven assists, and six rebounds from Shaquille Imperial; 12 points plus three rebounds from Mark Nonoy; and 11 points plus 11 rebounds from CJ Cansino.
The MPBL visits the Strike Gym in Bacoor City on Tuesday with games pitting Bicol against Caloocan at 4 p.m., Mindoro against San Juan at 6 p.m. and Abra against Manila at 8 p.m.
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