SAN FERNANDO CITY – Caloocan had to go through a wringer against a tough Pasig team while Pampanga easily rolled past Marikina at the start of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League playoffs at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center on Friday, Oct. 6, here.

The Batang Kankaloo were pushed to the limit by Pasig but were only saved by a last gasp jumper from Gabby Espinas with 0.7 seconds left to escape with a 71-69 win and gain a head start to their best-of-three quarterfinals race.

Espinas finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds while Reil Cervantes led the way in scoring with 18 points as the fourth seed Caloocan dodged huge bullets in the endgame after Pasig struggled to make its shots from the foul line.

Robbie Manalang, Ryan Costelo and Kenny Rocacurva put up a valiant stand to put Pasig in position to win in the endgame but just couldn’t complete the upset after missing seven free throws in the final five minutes.

Manalang had 17 points while Rocacurva and Costelo added 15 and 12 respectively.

Meanwhile, Archie Concepcion made sure to give Arwind Santos a winning debut for the Giant Lanterns as they also drew first blood against the Shoemasters, 82-70.

Concepcion shone with 26 points as Michael Garcia and Encho Serrano finished with 13 and 12 respectively. Justine Baltazar was relatively quiet with nine points although more than made up for it with 21 rebounds and seven assists.

Santos, who still saw limited action, added four points and six rebounds in 13 minutes of play.