THE Pampanga Giant Lanterns bested the undermanned Quezon Huskers, 88-82, on Saturday and inched closer to the MPBL 2025 Season leaders at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
Barely ahead, 76-75, the reigning back-to-back champions bunched seven points on Chris Lalata's four points and Rence Alcoriza's triple against two charities by Quezon's Judel Fuentes to pull ahead, 83-77, with 1 minute and 55 seconds left.
Alfrancis Tamsi knocked in a triple for Quezon, but Lalata drove in to hand Pampanga its 9th win against one loss in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament where it trailed only Nueva Ecija (10-0) and San Juan (9-0).
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The Huskers, who suffered their fifth straight loss to the Giant Lanterns, including a three-game sweep in last year's Finals, dropped to 8-2.
Rence Alcoriza led Pampanga with 19 points and 3 rebounds, followed by Archie Concepcion with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, Larry Muyang with 13 points, 15 rebounds and 2 blocks, and Lalata with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
Quezon drew 14 points, nine in the fourth quarter, from Tamsi and 11 points each from Gonzales, Ximone Sandagon and Judel Fuentes.
The Huskers played without Mythical Team member JP Sarao, power leaper Jason Opiso, center Rodel Gravera, and used 6-foot-7 Christian Bunag and 6-foot-5 Joseph Gabayni sparingly.
The Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters vented their wrath on the Paranaque Patriots, 92-53, in the second game to level up at 5-5.
Hurting from a 75-82 loss to the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys on May 3, the Rum Masters pulled away after three quarters, 71-36, and continued their rampage in the fourth to relegate the Patriots to 1-6.
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Ced Ablaza led Batangas with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists, followed by Jong Baloria with 14 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists, Philip Paniamogan with 13 points plus 6 assists, and John Ambulodto with 10 points plus 11 rebounds.
Paranaque got 23 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists from Alvin John Capobres and 16 points plus 2 assists from homegrown Paolo Castro.
The Muntinlupa Cagers turned hot and froze Imus Braderhood in the homestretch to prevail, 64-57, and climb to 7-2 in the opener.
The MPBL takes a break for the May 12 elections and will resume on Wednesday, May 14, at Ynares Center Montalban with games pitting Bacolod against Caloocan at 4 p.m., Bataan against Pasig at 6 p.m., and Valenzuela against host Rizal at 8 p.m.
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