Pampanga holds off Batangas, Imus wins

MANILA, Philippines — Pampanga’s hot start cushioned its cold finish as the Giant Lanterns stunned Batangas City Embassy Chill, 62-57, in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season presented by Xtreme at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

The Giant Lanterns zoomed to a 32-13 spread as the Athletics couldn’t find their mark and were comfortably ahead after three quarters, 58-44.

Batangas, however, opened the fourth quarter with a nine-point run and, with Pampanga held to a basket, threatened at 57-60 with still 40 seconds to go.

A lay-up by Mitchelle Maynes, Pampanga’s fourth and last in the final 10 minutes, sealed the upset for the Giant Lanterns as the Athletics missed two triple attempts in the last 23 seconds.

Though held scoreless in the last quarter, Archie Concepcion wound up with 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Pampanga, which climbed to 7-4 in a tie with second game winner Bacolod Bingo Plus.

Batangas suffered its first loss in 11 starts as only Cedric Ablaza got his game going with 15 points, 11 rebounds and five steals.

Bacolod nipped Pasig, 71-70, behind Kraniel Villoria’s lay-up with 18 seconds left and pulled down the Realtors to 6-4.

Viloria finished with 16 points to complement the 18 points of Jhan Mchale Nermal and the 12-point, six-assist output of Aaron Jeruta.

Imus, led by Allan Mangahas with a triuple-double job, showed its sharpest form yet in a 104-61 dumping of Mindoro in the opener that raised its record to 3-7.