Levi Hernandez cut loose and drove in with 1.1 seconds left to lift Batangas City Tanduay past Pampanga, 65-64, on Tuesday in Manny Pacquiao presents MPBL 2025 Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Hernandez got the ball from Ced Ablaza on a well-executed drawn-up play that reversed the outcome after Archie Concepcion gave Pampanga back the lead with a one-handed floater from the corner.
The Rum Masters, the 2018 MPBL inaugural champions, extended their hot streak to five and climbed to 12-7 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
The Giant Lanters, the reigning back-to-back titlists, saw their four-game run broken and dropped to 14-5 in the chase for playoff berths
Compiling 26 points, including 4 triples, and 6 rebounds, Hernandez clinched best player honors as he proved to be the biggest thorn for the Giant Lanterns, who led by as many as 27-12.
Ablaza supported with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, followed by homegrown MJ Dela Virgen with 9 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
Pampanga got 13 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals from Jhan Nermal, 11 points and 5 rebounds from Concepcion, 8 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists from Larry Muyang, and 9 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists from Jhaymo Eguilos, a stalwart of Batangas’ champion team.
Sarangani, powered by returnee Jeff Viernes and acquisition Migs Pascual, routed Marikina, 96-83, earlier.
Viernes, who in 2023 set the MPBL individual scoring record with 50 points for Sarangani, posted 26 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals to earn best player honors.
Pascual, a former San Sebastian College star, contributed 10 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists to complement Jeymark Mallari’s 11 points and 3 rebounds and help the Sarangani Grippers improve to 7-12.
Marikina tumbled to 4-15 despite Ace Russel Tiamzon’s 23 points and 11 rebounds and Deo Timajo’s 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
Biñan Tatak Gel found the right recruit in Warren Bonifacio and routed Manila Batang Quiapo, 99-62, in the opener.
The 6-foot-5 Bonifacio, acquired from the Pasay Voyagers, proved his worth with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 2 assists in a 16-minute, 53-second stint to earn best player honors and power Biñan to an 11-7 card.
With Biñan ahead throughout and as many as 81-39, Coach Boyet Fernandez had the luxury of fielding his second stringers, including homegrown actor Ronie Alonte, who delivered with 15 points, including two triples, and 3 assists.
Jaymar Gimpayan delivered 14 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks; Kenny Roger Rocacurva 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, and Renzo Subido 9 points, 3 steals, 2 rebounds and 2 assists for Biñan .
Manila, which tumbled to 2-16, drew 20 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists from Alfred Sedillo; 16 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds from Achie Inigo, and 6 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists from Joe Gomez De Liano.
The MPBL resumes on Thursday at the Cuneta Astrodome with games pitting Gensan against Paranaque at 4 p.m., Davao against Quezon Province at 6 p.m., and Pasay against Muntinlupa at 8 p.m.
