Heatwaves catch fire, torch Giant Lanterns

The Pangasinan Heatwaves turned hot in the last five minutes and bested the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, 81-77, to rev up their drive in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

Trailing by seven, the Heatwaves unloaded 16 points against only three for the Giant Lanterns, the reigning back-to-back champions, to seize control, 80-74, with 29.6 seconds left.

Although Pampanga’s Raymond Binuya knocked in a triple with 23 seconds to go, Michael Digregorio sealed Pangasinan’s fourth win against a loss with a free throw in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

Pangasinan trails 4-0 leaders Nueva Ecija, Rizal Xentromall and Quezon Province, which trounced Marikina, 74-54, in the opener of the tripleheader.

Hessed Gabo fired six points, Vic Manuel five, Jorey Napoles two, and DiGregorio three in that Pangasinan spurt that pulled down Pampanga to 3-1, the same card as Abra, Zamboanga and Caloocan, which trounced Pasay, 63-48, in the nightcap.

Behind, 26-27, at the half, the Batang Kankaloo banked on Chris Bitoon and Joco Tayongtong to pull away by as far as 63-47 and relegate the Pasay Voyagers to 3-2.

Bitoon wound up with 14 points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists, followed by Tayong with eight points, three assists and two rebounds, and homegrown Paul Hendrix Casin with eight points plus two rebounds.

Pasay got 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals from Laurenz Victoria and nine points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals from Cyrus Tabi.

Manuel chalked 22 points and three rebounds to earn Best Player honors over Napoles, who finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks, and DiGregorio with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists.