MUNTINLUPA turned back Davao Occidental's repeated rallies and prevailed, 89-80, on Wednesday to rev up its drive in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
The Davao Tigers moved within three points four times, the last at 80-83 with 2 minutes and 18 seconds left. But the Muntinlupa Cagers held their ground through John Cantimbuhan's drive and two free throws.
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Kurt Lojera added two more free throws with 6.6 seconds left to seal a third straight win that tied the Cagers with Pampanga and Quezon Province at 9-2 (win-loss), trailing only Zamboanga (10-2), San Juan (9-1), Abra (10-1), and pacesetter Nueva Ecija (11-0) in the chase for playoff slots.
The 5-foot-10 Cantimbuhan, a former star of De La Salle-Dasmarinas, posted 26 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists to earn Best Player honors over JR Raflores, who tallied 17 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists.
Other Cagers who delivered were Patrick Ramos with 14 points and 2 assists, and Lojera with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
With Cantimbuhan and Raflores at the firing end, Muntinlupa pulled away at 26-6 and kept control.
Davao absorbed its third straight loss and tumbled to 3-5 despite Terrence Tumalip's 24 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks, Jeff Comia's 13 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, Justin Alano's 11 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists, and Jon Lee Valin's 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.
Next MPBL games
The MPBL goes to the Cuneta Astrodome on Thursday with games pitting Mindoro against Manila at 4 p.m., San Juan against Bacolod at 6 p.m., and Pasay against Cebu at 8 p.m.
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