Pasay started strong in the third quarter and went on to beat Bacolod City of Smiles, 77-67, on Thursday, July 4, in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Powered by Dhon Reverente, the Pasay Voyagers clustered 14 points to pull away, 52-38, en route to their ninth win in 16 starts in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.

Reverente finished with 20 points, including 13 in the third quarter, 11 rebounds and three assists to clinch best player honors over Warren Bonifacio, who finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, three assists plus two steals, and Laurenz Victoria, who tallied 12 points, six rebounds and three assists.

The Voyagers led by as far as 77-60 midway through the fourth quarter and pulled Bacolod down to 1-16.
Out of contention for a playoff spot, Bacolod got 23 points and 6 rebounds from homegrown Alfred Sedillo and 13 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, plus two steals from Louie Vigil.

Valenzuela rallied to nip Muntinlupa, 73-71, in the second game and climb to 9-8.

Way behind, 25-46, the Valenzuela Classics clawed their way up to 68-60 before quashing the Muntinlupa Cagers' attempt to regain control.  

Michael Angelo Macion paced Valenzuela with 15 points and four rebounds, followed by veteran Paolo Hualde with 13 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Muntinlupa tumbled to 5-11 despite the 24-point, 9-assist, 5-rebound, 4-steal effort of Joshua Miguel Marcos and the 13-point output of Gabriel Capacio.

The MPBL goes to the FilOil Ecooil Centre on Friday with a triple bill pitting Iloilo against Marikina at 4 p.m., South Cotabato against Bataan at 6 p.m., and Nueva Ecija against San Juan at 8 p.m.