The Basilan Viva Portmasters quelled Caloocan Batang Kankaloo's final rally to prevail, 92-82, on Wednesday and return to their course in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Orion Sports Complex in Bataan.
Comfortably ahead, 80-65, the Portmasters slowed down as the Batang Kankaloo gave chase and unloaded 13 points, capped by a Paul Sanga triple to close the gap, 78-84, with one minute and 24 seconds to go.
Sanga, however, was assessed a technical foul for delaying the game and Calo converted the accompanying free throw, followed by Sherwin Concepcion's layup with 57.9 seconds left to seal the Portmasters' third win in eight starts.
Homegrown Joseph Manlangit's back-to-back drives pushed Caloocan within 82-87, but Jimboy Pasturan's long banked triple doomed the Batang Kankaloo to their third loss against five victories.
Sherwin Concepcion presided over Caloocan's onslaught with 22 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, followed by Emman Calo with 21 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Alex Cabagnot with 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Caloocan got 13 points, 6 assists and 2 rebounds from Chris Bitoon, 12 points, five assists and three rebounds from Jeff Manday, and 10 points plus four rebounds from Manlangit.
Despite playing without a legit center in the fourth quarter, the Portmasters ruled the boards, 44-36, through Concepcion's efforts.
The MPBL goes to the Ynares Arena 2 Montalban on Thursday with games pitting Zambanga against Bacolod at 4 p.m., Marikina against Quezon City at 6 p.m., and San Juan against host Rizal at 8 p.m.
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