MANILA – Val City Magic squandered a double-digit lead before escaping with an 85-82 victory over Marikina Shoemasters in the 2025 MPBL Season on Tuesday night at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Negrense Jan Formento finished with 13 points, including a three-pointer, to go with five assists and four rebounds as the Magic bounced back from their recent defeat to improve to a 2-2 win-loss record.
Louie Vigil tallied with 18 points, including five three-point conversions, Kobe Monje added 14 markers, while Kyle Neypes and Jonathan Gesalem ended with 11 markers apiece for the Magic.
“This is my first game with the team and I am trying to jell with them,” Vigil said in a post-game interview. “Actually, this team, we really want to be in the playoffs. So back to drawing board, back to training, we just trust the system.”
“Napanood ko ‘yung previous games namin and nakita ko kung gaano kami ka-intact sa depensa, kung gaano kami kagaling. We got good coaches na nag-guide sa amin kaya susuklian lang namin ng magandang laro within the system,” he added.
Leading by as many as 28 points in the opening half, the Magic saw their lead cut to 72-76 with over three minutes left before they responded with baskets from Vigil, Formento, and Lester Alvarez to increase it to 81-72.
The Shoemasters made their last push to cut the deficit to 80-83 with 21 seconds remaining in the game, but two free throws from Monje secured the victory for the Magic.
Michael Macion top-scored for Marikina with 23 points, Carlo Velasco added 11 markers, while Karl Penano and Jethro Escoto contributed 10 points apiece as they dropped to a 0-4 record.
Meanwhile, Caloocan Batang Kankaloo (2-1) scored an 84-70 victory over 1Bataan Risers (1-3). Prince Casin tallied 14 points and seven rebounds to be named Player of the Game for Caloocan.
Pasay Voyagers (3-1), on the other hand, walloped Manila Batang Quiapo (1-3), 107-75. Laurenz Victoria led Pasay with 17 points, while Warren Bonifacio and Damian Lasco added 11 apiece./PN
BOX SCORE:
VAL CITY 85 – Vigil 18, Monje 14, Formento 13, Neypes 11, Gesalem 11, Umali 7, Ongteco 5, Alvarez 4, Alabanza 2, Lo 0, Castillo 0.
MARIKINA 82 – Macion 23, Velasco 11, Penano 10, Escoto 10, Dela Cruz 8, Maloles 6, Tiburcio 5, Faylona 3, Nobleza 3, Roque 2, Basco 1, Sarsonas 0, Cudal 0, Dimayuga 0, Go 0.
Quarterscores: 27-18, 55-34, 70-51, 85-82.
