THE reigning back-to-back champions Pampanga Giant Lanterns met stiff resistance from the retooled Cebu Greats before prevailing, 69-66, on Tuesday in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando City.
Cebu threatened at 66-68 before Paul Desiderio missed a probable go-ahead triple, allowing John Lloyd Clemente to secure Pampanga's 13th win in 17 starts by sinking the first of two free throws with 2.5 seconds left.
New acquisition Allen Mina led Pampanga with 14 points and 7 rebounds, followed by Larry Muyang with 13 points and 9 rebounds.
READ Junthy, Quinahan answer call to restore lost pride for Cebu team
Pampanga, which missed top gun Archie Concepcion, also banked on Clemente with 9 points, 9 rebounds and 7 Gassists, Jhaymo Eguilos with 7 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, and new recruit John Ashley Faa with 5 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds, to stay close to pacesetters Nueva Ecija (16-0), Abra (15-1), San Juan (14-1), Zamboanga (14-3) and Quezon Province (13-4).
Although Cebu absorbed its sixth straight defeat and tumbled to 4-13, the Greats, under new coach Junthy Valenzuela, showed newfound strength behind homegrown additions Jun Manzo, Desiderio, JR Quinahan and Reeve Ugsang.
Manzo shows way
Manzo wound up with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists; Desiderio 6 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists; Quinahan 6 points and 3 rebounds; and Ugsang 2 points and 3 rebounds.
Cebu got 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists from Jan Jamon, 8 points and 2 assists from Brylle Ivan Meca, and 7 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists from Lean Vincent Martel.
Sarangani survived Pasig's final assault and won, 96-95, in the second game to improve to 7-8.
Trailing 14 points, Pasig unloaded 16, capped by Chito Jaime's triple, against Sarangani's three to close in 95-96, with 4.9 seconds left.
Sarangani's Larce Sunga missed two free throws with 1.7 seconds to go, but Charles Callano grabbed the offensive rebound to preserve the Grippers' sixth win against 11 losses.
Jeymark Mallari led Sarangani with 21 points, 5 steals, 2 rebounds and 2 assists; Sunga with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists; Ken Brillantes with 14 points and 11 rebounds; Coy Alves with 14 points and 5 rebounds; and Kyt Jimenez with 7 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 steals.
Pasig skidded to 7-8 despite Mark Montuano's 20 points and 8 rebounds; Jacob Galicia's 17 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists; Rocky Acidre's 17 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds; Jaime's 13 points and 17 rebounds; and Warlo James Batac's 11 points and 4 rebounds.
Reymart Escobido drilled in a floater buzzer-beater to lift the Davao Occidental Tigers past the Marikina Shoemasters, 72-71, in the opener.
Called in after Davao pulled ahead, 71-70, on a triple by Jay Yutoc with 2.3 seconds left, the 5-foot-10 former San Sebastian College star, delivered and shoved the Tigers to 6-8.
The MPBL returns to the Alonte Sports Arena on Wednesday with games pitting Bataan against Basilan at 4 p.m., Quezon Province against Paranaque at 6 p.m., and host Binan against Batangas at 8 p.m.
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