Manila paraded Greg Slaughter and emerged triumphant over Biñan, 79-63, on Friday, May 24, in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

The 7-footer Slaughter delivered 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists to negate five turnovers and was chosen best player on his first stint in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.

It was far from being a Slaughter show, however, as Carl Bryan Cruz and Jan Jamon also shone for Manila SV Batang Sampaloc, which notched its 6th win against four losses.

Cruz posted 21 points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal and a block, while Jamon notched 14 points, including the dagger 3 that pushed Manila away, 66-54, with 4 minutes and 25 seconds to go.

Cruz then sealed Biñan's first loss after 6 wins by sinking 2 free throws, capping Manila's 12-point cluster, 68-54, with only 4 minutes and 6 seconds left.

Biñan got 15 points and five rebounds from Jimboy Estrada and 11 points from Nino Canaleta.
Earlier, Rizal XentroMall nipped Bataan, 87-85, to rise to 6-3.

Kraniel Villoria starred anew for the Rizal Golden Coolers with 21 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and five steals in 34 minutes and 3 seconds of play. He was ably supported by Keith Agovida with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, Charles Dela Cruz with 15 points and five rebounds, Marco Balagtas with 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists plus two steals, and homegrown John Apacible with 11 points and three rebounds.

The Bataan Risers, who dropped to 3-6, got 14 points each from Mitchelle Maynes and Dante Paguio, 13 points plus 8 rebounds from Rhaffy Octobre, and 12 points, five rebounds and six assists from Robbi Darang.
Neither team led by double digits in the tight game that saw 11 lead changes and 7 deadlocks. 

Davao survived a fiery rally by Pangasinan to prevail, 64-62, in the opener.

Coasting along, 61-53, the Davao Occidental Tigers watch as the Pangasinan Heatwaves threaten at 61-62 following a 9-point cluster by Ralph Robin.

Davao's Jun Manzo split his two free throws for the final count as Pangasinan's Hesed Gabo missed an ill-advised 3-pointer before the buzzer.

The Tigers, who drew 17 points, 11 rebounds and five assists from Bambam Gamalinda, climbed to 7-2 while the Heatwaves fell to 2-7. Manzo finished with 11 points, five rebounds and six assists.

Pangasinan got 17 points from Robin, 16 from Ed Daquiaog, and 12 points from Michael Mabulac.
The MPBL visits the Quezon Convention Center on Saturday with Mindoro battling Pasay at 4 p.m., Iloilo tackling Quezon City at 6 p.m. and Batangas tangling with Quezon.