Binan banked on Jaymar Gimpayan to thwart Pangasinan, 75-72, on Saturday and forge a four-way tie for the lead in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Pangasinan.
Gimpayan poured 10 points while Pierce Tyron Chan added five in the fourth quarter as Binan Tatak Gel Beast Motorcycle Game X broke free, 73-62, midway through the fourth quarter en route to its sixth straight win that tied it with Nueva Ecija, Quezon and San Juan.
Earlier games saw Davao Occidental drub Rizal XentroMall, 79-79, and Muntinlupa stun Bataan, 69-63.
The Pangasinan Heatwaves countered with 9 points, through Michael Mabulac, Hesed Gabo and Ian Melencio, against a basket by Alvin Baetiong to threaten at 72-75 with still 13.5 seconds left.
Unfortunately for Pangasinan, Gabo missed a triple from the corner with 8.7 seconds to go, a jumper from JR Caasi with 6.3 ticks left, and a buzzer-beater 3 from way backcourt, pulling down the Heatwaves to 2-6.
Gimpayan finished with 14 points and 9 rebounds to clinch best player honors over Kenny Roger Rocacurva with 12 points and 3 rebounds and Michael Heinrich Maestre with 10 points.
Pangasinan got 22 points, including 4 triples, and 4 rebounds from Ralph Robin, 15 points and 6 rebounds from Melencio, 11 points and 14 rebounds from Mabulac and 11 points and 9 assists from Gabo.
Powered by Arth Dela Cruz, the Tigers pounced on the misfiring Golden Coolers to pull away at 53-23 before cruising to their sixth win in eight starts.
Dela Cruz chalked 19 points, 14 rebounds and 3 assists to earn best player honors over James Martinez, who posted 15 points and 3 assists for the Tigers, the 2021 MPBL Lakan Season champion.
They were backed by Terrence Tumalip, Bambam Gamalinda and Jun Manzo, who chipped in 8 points each for Coach Manu Inigo.
