MANILA – Basilan Starhorse Viva Port Masters showed steadiness down the stretch to score an 89-82 victory over Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the 2025 MPBL Season on Tuesday night at the Playtime FilOil Center in San Juan City.
Jervy Cruz turned back the clock with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds to be named Player of the Game as the Viva Port Masters notched their 10th victory in 19 matches.
“Alam naman natin ‘yung Pampanga kung gaano sila kalakas at kabata, so kaming mga veterans naging ready lang kami (mag-step up) anytime,” the former University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers big man said.
Emman Calo top-scored for Basilan with 22 points, including four three-point conversions, while Lorenzo Navarro and Antonio Lorenzo Joson ended with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
The Viva Port Masters started strong as they led by as many as 17 points at 62-45 on a conversion by James Tempra, but the Giant Lanterns responded with their run to cut the deficit to 75-78.
Navarro, however, countered every conversion by Pampanga with his free throws to keep Basilan ahead at 84-77 before Joson and Gab Dagangon sealed the win with their free throws.
Larry Muyang finished with a double-double of 17 points and 22 rebounds, while John Lloyd Clemente and Negrense Jhan Nermal had 17 and 11, respectively, as the Giant Lanterns fell to a 15-6 record.
Meanwhile, Quezon City Galeries Taipan dominated from the second quarter onward to dominate the slumping Bacolod Tubo Slashers, 85-73. Quezon City improved to a 6-14, while Bacolod dropped to 2-18.
John Edcel Rojas powered Quezon City with a double-double performance of 11 points, 11 rebounds, Dave Bernabe added 12 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks, while Nino Ibanez chipped in 12 points and two assists to help seal the victory.
Despite strong efforts from Jayvee Sam Adjei (14 points, seven rebounds, three assists) and Mart James Barrera (14 points, six rebounds), Bacolod could not recover from a double-digit deficit in the second half./PN
BOX SCORE:
BASILAN 89 – Calo 22, Cruz 19, Navarro 14, Joson 12, Ad. Santos 8, Mahari 4, Tempra 4, Alvarez 2, Pasturan 2, Dagangon 2, Caduyac 0, Reyes 0, Grimaldo 0.
PAMPANGA 82 – Muyang 17, Clemente 17, Nermal 11, Eguilos 8, Faa 7, Faundo 5, Concepcion 5, Mina 4, Palma 4, Estil 3, Armenion 1, Alcoriza 0.
Quarterscores: 22-23, 47-38, 62-53, 89-82.
