DEFENDING back-to-back champion Pampanga extended its hot run while Binan Tatak Gel halted its slide on Thursday in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
The Pampanga Giant Lanterns led throughout and subdued Sarangani, 95-85, for their fourth straight win and a 14-4 slate in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Binan banked on Carlo Lastimosa’s clutch hits to repel Cebu’s fiery rally and prevail, 81-78, in the nightcap of a triple-bill.
Lastimosa drilled in a triple and banked a jumper in succession to push Binan ahead, 79-75, negating a triple by Cebu’s JR Quinahan with 14.2 seconds left.
The Lagunenses, with Lastimosa and Kenny Roger Rocarcuva firing 16 points each, snapped a 3-game skid and climbed to 10-7 in the chase for playoff slots.
Jaymar Gimpayan also shone for Binan with 10 points, including two free throws that pegged the final count, plus 13 rebounds, and Renzo Subido with 10 points and 2 rebounds.
The Cebu Greats dropped to 4-14.
Pampanga, powered by recruits Jhan Nermal and Allen Mina, caught up with Zamboanga and trailed Nueva Ecija (17-0), Abra (16-1), San Juan (15-1) and Quezon Province (14-3) in the chase for playoff slots.
The Sarangani Grippers slid to 6-12.
The Marikina Shoemasters repulsed the Paranaque Patriots’ last-ditch rally to tally a wire-to-wire 92-87 victory in the opener.
Powered by Deo Timajo, Marikina surged ahead, 71-52, but Paranaque clawed to within 90-87 on a drive by Kristoffer Torrado.
Jethro Escoto, however, sealed Marikina’s fourth triumph in 14 starts with two free throws, 23.3 seconds left.
Timajo posted 29 points, spiked by 5 triples, and 5 rebounds, Jay Yutuc 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, Jacob Ubaldo 11 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, and RR Casajeros 10 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
Paranaque, which skidded to 1-16, got 20 points ans 3 rebounds from Wilson Baltazar, 18 points and 4 rebounds from Shaquille Alanes, 13 points and 12 rebounds from Jomar Santos, and 8 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists and 2 steals from Torrado.
The MPBL visits the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga on Friday with games pitting Bulacan against San Juan at 4 p.m., Bataan against Davao at 6 p.m., and Imus against Ilagan Isabela at 8 p.m.