Binan joined the leaders while Pampanga stayed right behind in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season on Monday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
With 12 players scoring, Binan Tatak Gel Beast Motorcycle Game X subdued Muntinlupa, 71-60, while the Pampanga Giant Lanterns brushed aside the challenge of the Bataan Risers to prevail, 86-75, in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Valenzuela shrugged off to trounce Imus, 107-88, in the opener.
Binan, led by Robbie Manalang and Jimboy Estrada, extended its win-run to five and caught up with fellow unscathed teams San Juan, Quezon Province and Nueva Ecija at the top spot.
Defending champion Pampanga finally pulled away late in the fourth quarter, 83-66, to tally its sixth straight victory after dropping its initial game.
Justine Baltazar, the reigning MVP, again powered the Giant Lanterns with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 assists and 2 blocks, followed by gunner Archie Concepcion with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.
Filling up the void left by the injured Encho Serrano, homegrown icon Garcia fired 12 points, the same as fellow homegrown Raymond Binuya, who dished off 6 assists, and Allen Liwag, who also snagged 5 rebounds.
Bataan, which even led at 34-29, suffered its fourth loss in seven starts and fell to the bottom half of the standings despite the 11-point, 10-rebound effort of Rhaffy Octobre, the 15 points of Yves Sazon and the 10-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist effort of Rey Acuno.
Manalang chalked 12 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds, while Estrada posted 11 points and 4 rebounds for Binan, which also drew 9 points and 6 rebounds from Jaymar Gimpayan, 8 points and 7 rebounds from Kenny Roger Rocacurva and 7 points plus 7 rebounds from Alvin Baetiong.
Trailing, 7-18, the Valenzuela Classics struck back through Fil-AM CJ Payawal, who poured 15 points, Dennis Santos and Allan Richard Martin to take control at the half, 50-41, en route to a 5-3 card.
Payawal wound up with 20 points and 4 rebounds, while Santos, who sparked a 14-point cluster that pushed Valenzuela beyond reach, 95-69, finished with 18 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks.
Martin notched 14 points, Mike Delos Santos pooled 10 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals plus 3 blocks, and Jameson Hiro chipped in 10 points for the Classics, who drew 12 assists and 2 points from Valandre Chauca.
Imus Agimat VA Drones suffered its seventh straight defeat despite the 17-point, 12-rebound effort of Luis Tapenio, the 16-point, 8-rebound output of Fil-AM Richard Popovic, and the 15-point, 5-rebound contribution of John Rey Sumido.
