Pampanga bested the undermanned Quezon Province, 88-82, in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.

Barely ahead, 76-75, the Giant Lanterns, the reigning back-to-back champions, scored seven on Chris Lalata's four points and Rence Alcoriza's triple against two charities by Quezon's Judel Fuentes to pull ahead, 83-77, with 1:55 left.

Alfrancis Tamsi knocked in a triple for Quezon, but Lalata drove in to hand Pampanga its ninth win against one loss in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament where it trailed only Nueva Ecija (10-0) and San Juan (9-0).

The Huskers, who suffered their fifth straight loss to the Giant Lanterns, including a three-game sweep in last year's Finals, dropped to 8-2.

Rence Alcoriza led Pampanga with 19 points and three rebounds followed by Archie Concepcion with 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Larry Muyang with 13 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks, and Lalata with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Quezon drew 14 points, nine in the fourth quarter, from Tamsi and 11 points each from Gonzales, Ximone Sandagon and Judel Fuentes.

The Huskers played without Mythical Team member JP Sarao, power leaper Jason Opiso, center Rodel Gravera, and used 6-foot-7 Christian Bunag and 6-foot-5 Joseph Gabayni sparingly.