PAMPANGA nipped Bacolod 72-70 in overtime last Monday to seize the spotlight from Nueva Ecija and General Santos in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season presented by Xtreme at the overcrowded Bren Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Michael John Garcia opened up and ended Pampanga’s scoring in the extension to key the Giant Lanterns’ fourth straight victory that raised their record to 8-4 in the single round-robin elimination phase of the 22-team tournament. As expected, powerhouse Nueva Ecija dumped Marikina, 99-77, in the opener to stretch its winning streak to 14.
Sniper John Bryon Villarias fired 25 points for the Rice Vanguards, who got 13 points from Will McAloney, 10 points and 10 assists from Pamboy Raymundo and 10 points from Michael Mabulac.
The Marikina Shoemasters drew 23 points from Nhemar Gonzales and 22 from Yves Sazon but still fell to 3-9.
The GenSan Warriors returned to the upper half of the standings with a 73-65 victory over the Imus Bandera.
Archie Concepion again lit up the Giant Lanterns’ offense with 16 points plus 5 rebounds, followed by Garcia with 11 and 6 and Jayson Castro Apolonio with 11 and 5.
Tiny Christopher Lagrama also played big for Pampanga with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.