The Negros Muscovados rallied to trip the Pangasinan Heatwaves, 87-86, on Saturday and rev up its drive in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Down by as far as 37-55 and still behind, 82-86, with 1 minute and 6 seconds to go, Negros got the lift from a 3-point play by Felipe Chavez and a breakaway drive by Miguel Gabriel Ramos off an errant pass by Pangasinan’s John Paul Maguillano to snatch its 9th win against 11 losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
John Rey Villanueva and Buenaventura Raflores led Negros with 18 points each, followed by Renz Palma with 15, and Chavez with 13 to go with 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
Pangasinan, which was still up, 70-60, heading to the fourth quarter, dropped to 7-12 despite the 19-point, 6-rebound effort of Maguillano and the 18-point, 3-rebound output of Ralph Robin.
Muntinlupa nipped Bulacan, 64-60, in the opener to improve to 6-13 and keep its slim playoff chances.
Trailing, 57-58, the Muntinlupa Cagers closed out with a 7-2 run on a drive by Lester Tamayo, a triple by Joshua Ramirez, and two free throws by Joshua Miguel Marcos that sealed the outcome with 6.7 seconds left.
Marcos finished with 11 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals for the Cagers, who also drew 9 points plus 9 rebounds from Errol Jay Bongay, 8 points plus 8 rebounds from Marc Lester Tamayo, and 8 points, 3 rebounds plus 3 assists from Jasper Derek Cuevas.
Bulacan, which skidded to 2-18, got 17 points from Jasper Derek Cuevas and 10 points plus 4 rebounds from Khen Osicos.
The MPBL returns to the San Andres Sports Complex on Tuesday, July 23, with games pitting Sarangani against Iloilo at 4 p.m., Marikina against Valenzuela at 6 p.m., and Batangas against Pampanga at 8 p.m.
