MANILA – Donald Gumaru caught fire offensively in the second half to lead Pampanga Giant Lanterns to a 100-91 victory over the Bacolod Tubo Slashers in the 2025 MPBL Season on Monday night at the Orion Sports Complex in Bataan.
The former Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings guard finished with a game-high of 24 points, including six three-point conversions, as the Giant Lanterns improved to a 7-1 win-loss slate.
Gumaru connected 18 of his total points in the last two quarters as the two-time defending champions, the Giant Lanterns, turned a 45-all halftime score into a nine-point victory.
“Napag-usapan lang namin nung halftime na mas higpitan pa namin ‘yung depensa namin sa second half, kasi nung first half medyo lousy ‘yung laro namin eh,” Gumaru said in a post-game interview.
“Credit ko din naman sa teammates ko kung ano ‘yung nagawa ko sa game (against Bacolod). And iko-continue lang namin ‘yung mga ginagawa namin sa mga next games,” he added.
Larry Muyang continued his strong showing for Pampanga with a double-double of 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Archie Concepcion contributed 12 points, seven assists, and four boards.
Aldave Canoy paced the Tubo Slashers with 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals; Jan Gabriel Sobrevega, Jaycee Adjei, and PJ Intia had 12 points each; and Richard Movida contributed 10 as they fell to a 1-4 mark.
The Tubo Slashers will once again attempt to return to their winning ways when they battle Davao Occidental Tigers on May 2 at the Robert Estrella Memorial Stadium in Pangasinan.
Meanwhile, Muntinlupa Cagers (5-1) got back on the winning track with a 63-72 victory over Valenzuela Magic (3-6). John Cantimbuhan finished with 17 points to lead the Cagers.
The 1Bataan Risers (4-5), on the other hand, scored a 73-48 rout over the Bulacan Kuyas (0-10). Jeff Santos finished with 19 points and four rebounds to be named Player of the Game./PN
BOX SCORE:
PAMPANGA 100 – Gumaru 24, Muyang 23, Concepcion 12, Clemente 9, Faundo 8, Eguilos 6, Binuya 6, Lalata 4, Alcoriza 4, Armenion 4, Garcia 0, Delfino 0.
BACOLOD 91 – Canoy 17, Adjei 12, Sobrevega 12, Intia 12, Movida 10, Battaler 9, Canal 9, Dubouzet 8, Pastias 2, Mallari 0, Soriano 0.
Quarterscores: 19-33, 45-45, 74-67, 100-91.
