Pangasinan trips Pampanga, Quezon shares MPBL lead

The Pangasinan Heatwaves turned hot in the last five minutes and bested the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, 81-77, on Friday to rev up their drive in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

Trailing by seven, the Heatwaves unloaded 16 points against only three for the Giant Lanterns, the reigning back-to-back champions, to seize control, 80-74, with 29.6 seconds left.

Although Pampanga’s Raymond Binuya knocked in a triple with 23 seconds to go, Michael Digregorio sealed Pangasinan’s fourth win against a loss with a free throw in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

Pangasinan trails 4-0 leaders Nueva Ecija, Rizal Xentromall and Quezon Province, which trounced Marikina, 74-54, in the opener of the tripleheader.

Hesed Gabo fired six points, Vic Manuel five, Jorey Napoles two, and DiGregorio three in that Pangasinan spurt that pulled down Pampanga to 3-1, the same card as Abra, Zamboanga and Caloocan, which trounced Pasay, 63-48, in the nightcap.

Behind, 26-27, at the half, the Batang Kankaloo banked on Chris Bitoon and Joco Tayongtong to pull away by as far as 63-47 and relegate the Pasay Voyagers to 3-2.

Bitoon wound up with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists, followed by Tayong with 8 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds, and homegrown Paul Hendrix Casin with 8 points plus 2 rebounds.

Pasay got 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals from Laurenz Victoria and 9 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals from Cyrus Tabi.

Manuel chalked 22 points and 3 rebounds to earn best player honors over Napoles, who finished with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks, and DiGregorio with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists.

Michael Mabulac only scored six but snagged 13 rebounds as Pangasinan controlled the boards, 52-42.

Pampanga got 19 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals from Archie Concepcion and 10 points each from Renz Palma and Binuya. Newly activated Larry Muyang settled for 3 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

With Alfrancis Tamsi and JP Sarao combining for 20 points, the Quezon Huskers surged ahead, 41-27, at halftime and never wavered.

Tamsi finished with 16 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 assists to clinch best player honors over Sarao, who chalked 16 points plus 7 boards.

Homegrown Emman Tagle contributed nine points, and Vince Magbuhos and Christian Pagaran six points each for Quezon Coach Eric Gonzales.

Hounded by poor shooting, Marikina absorbed its fifth straight loss as only homegrown Jomel Landayan finished in twin digits with 11. Michael Macion and Karl Penano notched 8 points each.

The MPBL visits the Paco Arena for the first time this year with a tripleheader pitting Nueva Ecija against Valenzuela at 4 p.m., Cebu against Manila at 6 p.m., and Abra against Gensan at 8 p.m.