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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Pampanga, Basilan, Quezon boost MPBL playoff drives

Pampanga, Basilan, Quezon boost MPBL playoff drives

Published Jun 19, 2025 12:19 pm

At A Glance

  • The Pampanga Giant Lanterns averted a major collapse in the homestretch and salvaged a 60-57 victory over Binan Tatak Gel on Wednesday, June 18, to stay close to the MPBL 2025 Season pacesetters at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Emman Calo (with the ball) and Arwind Santos shine for Basilan Starhorse. (MPBL Images)
Emman Calo (with the ball) and Arwind Santos shine for Basilan Starhorse. (MPBL Images)
The Pampanga Giant Lanterns averted a major collapse in the homestretch and salvaged a 60-57 victory over Binan Tatak Gel on Wednesday, June 18, to stay close to the MPBL 2025 Season pacesetters at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Pampanga, the reigning back-to-back titlist, wasted a 56-39 spread early in the fourth quarter, allowed Binan to threaten at 57-58, and banked on Larry Muyang's two free throws with 5.8 seconds left to tally its 12th win against 4 losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament
Basilan Starhorse blanked Paranaque in the last 2 minutes and 14 seconds while scoring 10 points to prevail, 76-65, and remain on course for a playoff berth.
Veteran Arwind Santos shone in Basilan's 7th win against 8 losses with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, and so did James Tempra with 14 points and 9 rebounds, Emman Calo with 13 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds, and Gab Dagangon with 12 points and 7 rebounds.
Basilan dominated the boards, 67-36, against Paranaque, which put up a tough fight midway through the fourth quarter, 62-64, using an eight-man rotation.
Paranaque, which skidded to 1-14, drew 16 points and 4 rebounds from homegrown Paolo Castro, 14 points and 12 rebounds from Allen Papa, and 12 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists from Jasper Cuevas.
Muyang, whose layup against 18 points by Binan in a span of 7 minutes and 43 seconds prevented a reversal, wound up with 14 points and 11 rebounds to earn best player honors over Rence Alcoriza with 10 points and 3 rebounds.
Archie Concepcion, John Lloyd Clemente and Matt De Leon added 5 points each for the Giant Lanterns, who paraded former Manila star John Ashley Faa for the first time and got 4 points.
Binan absorbed its second straight defeat and tumbled to 9-6 despite Carlo Lastimosa's 17 points and 2 rebounds, and Jaymar Gimpayan's 12 points, 12 rebounds and 2 steals.
The Quezon Huskers blitzed the Bulacan Kuyas in the first quarter and proceeded to tally a coast-to-coast 91-61 victory in the opener.
Powered by JP Sarao, Diego Dario, LJ Gonzales and Judel Fuentes, Quezon pulled away, 29-5, en route to a 12-3 slate that put it behind Nueva Ecija (15-0), Abra (14-1), San Juan (13-1) and Zamboanga (13-3) in the race for playoff spots.
Sarao, last year's Mythical Team member, posted 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, and Joseph Gabayni 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists for Quezon.
Other Huskers who delivered were Dario, Gonzales and Gab Banal with 9 points each.
NCAA Season 98 MVP Will Gozum returned to the Huskers fold more than a year after undergoing left knee surgery and played for 12 minutes and 51 seconds, amassing 4 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.
The 6-foot-6 Gozum, former star of College of St. Benilde, is expected to play a pivotal role in Quezon's bid to regain the South Division crown and avenge its loss to Pampanga in the MPBL National Finals.
Bulacan fell to 2-15 despite Marlon Monte's 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists, Gino Jumao-as' 14 points and 2 rebounds, and Airohn Acop's 11 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
The MPBL returns to the Ynares Sports Arena on Thursday with games pitting Zamboanga against Bataan at 4 p.m., Nueva Ecija against Cebu at 6 p.m., and host Pasig against San Juan at 8 p.m.

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