The Pampanga Giant Lanterns recovered from a sluggish start to thwart the Valenzuela Classic, 69-64, on Tuesday and stay within sight of the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season pacesetters at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
The reigning back-to-back champions trailed the Classics by as many as 8-22 and needed a 9-point run to tie the count, before notching their 15th win in 20 starts in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Pampanga trails fellow North Division teams Abra (18-1), Nueva Ecija (18-1) and San Juan (17-1), and South Division leader Quezon Province (15-3) in the chase for playoff spots.
In the other games, the Binan Tatak Gel led throughout in a 55-47 victory over Muntinlupa and climbed to 12-7, while the Sarangani Grippers subdued Davao Occidental Tigers, 66-54, in the opener to stay in contention.
Larry Muyang was the Giant Lanterns’ bright light with game-highs 16 points and 14 rebounds, followed by Jhan Nermal with 9 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks, and John Ashley Faa with 7 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
Archie Concepcion couldn’t find his range, making only one of 12 field goal attempts, and settled for 4 points.
Kristan Hernandez and Warren Bonifacio tallied 10 points and 7 rebounds each for Binan, which also drew 6 points and 6 rebounds from Jaymar Gimpayan.
Muntinlupa continued its slide and tumbled to 10-9 despite Miguel Ives Corteza’s 16 points and Marvin Hayes’ 11.
