BATANGAS City Athletics-Tanduay missed several key players in a game the Quezon City Capitals-Black Mamba, but the inaugural MPBL champ still has enough gas left in the tank.
The Athletics bucked the absence of key players Val Acuña, Jhaymo Eguilos and Mon Rogado and turned to Bong Galanza to pull off a 95-90 win in in their season debut at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Galanza, picked up by the Athletics in the offseason after he was released by Kia in the PBA, scattered 28 points behind a proficient 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the three-point arc.
In the main game, the Caloocan Supremos-Longrich finally snapped a five-game skid dating back to last season to turn back the Pasig Pirates-Gameville, 91-81, for only the second home win in franchise history.
Mar Villahermosa finished with 18 points, six rebounds and three assists. He led six players in double figures for the team.
Ex-pro Jopher Custodio and Cedric Labing-isa added 13 points apiece while Joseph Nalos contributed 12. Prized recruits JR Cawaling and Paul Sanga chipped in 11 apiece as the Supremos completed a come-from-behind victory.
The Supremos had to climb back from 14 points down, 42-56, in the early stages of the third period.