Pampanga met stiff resistance from Bacolod in the early going before settling for a 100-91 victory that put it closer to the leaders of Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season on Monday at the Orion Sports Complex in Bataan.
Bracing for an early breakaway, Pampanga instead started cold, trailing by as far as 19-33 after the first quarter before tying the count at 45 at the break.
The Giant Lanterns then banked on Donald Gumaru and Larry Muyang in the second half to subdue the Tubo Slashers and raise their record to 7-1 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Pampanga trails only Nueva Ecija (8-0) and San Juan (6-0) and is tied with Quezon Province and Abra in the chase for playoff seats.
The Muntinlupa Cagers rebounded with a 72-63 triumph over the Valenzuela City Magic in the second game to keep step with a 5-1 record.
Powered by John Cantimbuhan Jr., Patrick Ramos and Marvin Hayes, the Cagers only broke free in the homestretch, 72-61.
Cantimbuhan posted 17 points, four rebounds and three assists; Ramos 16 points and five assists; and Hayes 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists.
With Mark Sarangay snagging 10 rebounds, the Cagers ruled the boards, 47-36, and converted this to a pivotal 20-4 edge in second-chance points.
Valenzuela fell to 3-6 despite Jan Formento’s 24-point, four-rebound output and JR Albanza’s 10-point, nine-rebound, four-assist effort.
Gumaru, a former Arellano University Chief, canned 9-of-11 attempts, highlighted by six triples, and posted 24 points, including 18 in the second half, to clinch Best Player honors.
Muyang wound up with 24 points, including 16 in the second half, and 14 rebounds.
Pampanga top gun Archie Concepcion contributed 12 points, seven assists and four boards, followed by John Lloyd Clemente with nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Bacolod, composed mostly of homegrown players, fell to 1-3 as Aldave Canoy’s 17-point, four-rebound, three-assist and two-steal effort went for naught.
The Tubo Slashers also got 12 points each from Jan Gabriel Sobrevega, Jaycee Sam Adjei and PJ Intia, and 10 points from Richard Phillip Movida.