PBA experience does carry a lot of weight in the MPBL.
That was evident for Biñan as it rode on the heroics of former PBA players Carlo Lastimosa and Marc Pingris to complete a 75-63 comeback against Quezon City - their first victory of the MPBL Season 8.
Lastimosa scored seven straight points, including a three-pointer to beat the shot clock for a 59-58 lead halfway into the fourth quarter while Pingris lorded it over in the paint with eight points, six rebounds, and two assists.
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Former UST star Nic Cabañero added 13 points off the bench.
Biñan's defense also held the Black Bulls to just 10 points in the fourth, while Lastimosa scored 11 of his 15 points to give the team the bounce-back win in the South Division after an opening loss.
Quezon gambled on transition offense for most of the game, totalling twice as many fastbreak points compared to the Tatak Gel.
Binan head coach Boyet Fernandez leaned on his holdovers, mainly Lastimosa, Pingris, as well as Kenny Rocacurva and Pamboy Raymundo, to slow down the pace and outlast Quezon City.
“It’s just the start of the season. Feeling ko sa adjustments ng bagong teammates and sa mga plays," said Fernandez. "We’ll get there. Makukuha namin pakonti-konti lamang.”
MJ Joson and Bryan Rosalin emerged as the only double-figure scorers for the 0-2 Black Bulls, with 15 and 11, respectively.
In the other game, Pasay City finally ticked off a North Division victory at the expense of Parañaque City, 83-48.
Christian Fajarito led the starters in scoring with 12 points, but most of the bark in Pasay's first win after an opening loss came from former NU Bulldogs Steve Nash Enriquez and Gelo Santiago.
Enriquez delivered a near-perfect shooting night with 11 points on 7-of-8 shooting, splashing all three attempts from beyond the arc, while Santiago led the bench mob with 12 points, five boards, and two assists.
Paulo Castro scored nine points to lead the way for the Patriots, who remained winless after their first two games.
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