Defending back-to-back champion Pampanga extended its hot run while Biñan Tatak Gel halted its slide in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season on Thursday at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

The Giant Lanterns led throughout and subdued Sarangani, 95-85, for their fourth straight win and a 14-4 slate in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

Biñan, meanwhile, banked on Carlo Lastimosa’s clutch hits to repel Cebu’s fiery rally and prevail, 81-78, in the nightcap of a triple-bill.

Lastimosa drilled in a triple and banked a jumper in succession to push Biñan ahead, 79-75, negating a triple by Cebu’s JR Quinahan with 14.2 seconds left.

The Lagunenses, with Lastimosa and Kenny Roger Rocarcuva firing 16 points each, snapped a three-game skid and climbed to 10-7 in the chase for playoff slots.

Jaymar Gimpayan also shone for Binan with 10 points, including two free throws that pegged the final count, plus 13 rebounds, and Renzo Subido with 10 points and two rebounds.

The Cebu Greats dropped to 4-14 despite JR Quinahan’s 31 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, two rebounds and two assists; Mark Meneses’ 14 points, 18 rebounds and two assists, and Jan Jamon’s 11 points plus two assists.

Powered by recruits Jhan Nermal and Allen Mina, Pampanga caught up with Zamboanga and trailed Nueva Ecija (17-0), Abra (16-1), San Juan (15-1) and Quezon Province (14-3) in the chase for playoff slots.

Nermal wound up with 14 points and three rebounds while Mina chalked up 12 points, three steals, two blocks and two assists to complement Larry Muyang’s 14 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals; John Lloyd Clemente’s 16 points, four rebounds and two assists; and Archie Concepcion’s 12 points and three rebounds.

The Sarangani Grippers slid to 6-12 with returnee Jeff Viernes notching 22 points, three rebounds and three assists; Ken Brillantes adding 15 points, Kyt Jimenez contributing 11 points, eight assists, eight steals and six rebounds, and Migs Pascual chipping in 11 points.