ANGELES CITY — The Bulacan Kuyas and the Pasig-Sta. Lucia Realtors took the shortcut while the Pampanga Giant Lanterns treaded the long route toward victories in the Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Season on Thursday.
Bulacan blew a 20-point lead before nipping the Caloocan Supremos, 81-79, while Pasig wasted a 25-point spread before downing also-ran Imus Bandera, 93-88, before an overflow crowd at Angeles University Foundation Arena here.
Pampanga overhauled a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to force overtime and eventually subdue Batangas City Athletics, 82-79.
Trailing, 50-65, following back-to-back triples by Batangas new acquisition JB Tungcab, Pampanga dropped a 22-7 salvo, ten coming from Levi Hernandez and the game-tying follow-up by new Giant Lantern recruit Larry Muyang.
The 6-foot-5 Muyang, a burly center from Sta. Ana, Pampanga, who played for the Letran Knights, completed his heroics by scoring the marginal basket and a free throw to shatter the game’s final deadlock, 79-79, forged by Jeff Viernes’ triple.
Hernandez wound up with 32 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, while Michael Juico contributed 13 points and 12 rebounds for Pampanga, which posted its fourth straight win and climbed to joint fifth with Bataan at 17-9 in the North division.
Muyang finished with 9 points and 7 rebounds while John Dexter Maiquez chipped in 7 points and a night-high 20 rebounds as the Giant Lanterns pounded the Athletics off both boards, 70-42.
Viernes ended up with 19 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds but missed four of five charities in the homestretch of regulation as Tanduay-backed Batangas fell to 14-11.