Hot Navarro FT shooting lifts Basilan past Pampanga
Enzo Navarro hit eight free throws inside the final minute Tuesday night and lifted Basilan Starhorse to an 89-82 upset of Pampanga in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Portmasters rose to 10-9 with the victory where they quashed several uprisings by the powerhouse Giant Lanterns as the win overshadowed Nueva Ecija’s 94-78 drubbing of Bataan earlier that gave the Rice Vanguards a 19-1 slate and a share of the lead with the San Juan Knights and the Abra Solid North Weavers.
Basilan’s Jervy Cruz, a decorated collegiate star with Santo Tomas in the UAAP, delivered 19 points that went with 12 rebounds and three assists to clinch best player honors over Emman Calo, who finished with 22 points.
Navarro was also a candidate for the award after going 9-for-9 from the stripe in total and finishing with 14 points.
Pampanga, the reigning back-to-back champion which is now without Justine Baltazar, dropped to 15-6 despite ruling the boards, 61-33.
Larry Muyang grabbed 22 rebounds on top of 17 points and two steals for the Giant Lanterns, who made only 27 of 76 field goal attempts for 35 percent.
Pampanga also got 17 points and 10 rebounds from John Lloyd Clemente and 11 points from Jhan Mchale Nermal.
Nueva Ecija’s Jaycee Marcelino posted 20 points that went with four assists to clinch best player honors. Will McAloney backed him up with a solid effort of 15 points and six rebounds. Rob Celiz chipped in with 12 points.
The Rice Vanguards surged ahead, 83-63, midway through the fourth quarter and pulled down the Risers to 7-14 despite Yves Sazon’s 19 points.
Quezon City Galeries Taipan trounced Bacolod, 85-73, in the opener to improve to 6-14.
John Edcel Rojas paced the Taipans with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists.
The MPBL returns to Ynares Center Montalban on Wednesday, with games pitting Valenzuela against Bulacan at 4 p.m., Pasig against Muntinlupa at 6 p.m., and host Rizal Province against Quezon Province at 8 p.m.
