NEW recruits Jhan Nermal and Allen Mina led the way for reigning back-to-back champion Pampanga as it cruised to a wire-to-wire win over Sarangani, 95-85, on Thursday in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
The Giant Lanterns led by as many as 50-32 to improve to 14-4 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Pampanga caught up with Zamboanga in the standings and trails Nueva Ecija (17-0), Abra (16-1), San Juan (15-1) and Quezon Province (14-3) in the league leadership.
Nermal finished with 14 points while Mina added 12 points while being a menace on the defensive end as he finished with three steals and two blocks.
Larry Muyang had a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds while John Lloyd Clemente topscored for the kapampangans with 16. Archie Concepcion wrapped up the five double-digit scorers for Pampanga with 12.
Jeff Viernes 22-point night wasn't enough for the Grippers who fell to 6-12.
Earlier, the Marikina Shoemasters repulsed the Paranaque Patriots' last-ditch rally to escape with a 92-87 victory and keep their fading playoff hopes alive.
Deo Timajo drained five treys to finish with 29 points for the Shoemasters
The MPBL visits the Bataan People's Center on Friday with games pitting Bulacan against San Juan at 4 p.m., Bataan against Davao at 6 p.m., and Imus against Ilagan Isabela at 8 p.m.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
