Cebu Classic overhauled a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter to stun Caloocan, 77-76, on Thursday, March 13, in its return to the Manny Pacquiao presents MPBL 2025 Season at the Pasay Astrodome.
Limuel Tampus poured all his 16 points in that span to power the Classics, absent the past four years, to the 30-team tournament’s biggest reversal thus far.
Trailing 46-65, Cebu detonated a 21-2 bomb presided by Tampus and homegrown Brylee Ivan Meca to threaten at 66-67.
Caloocan countered through two free throws by Rommel Calahat and a jumper by Jeramer Cabanag with 2 minutes and 56 seconds left.
The Classics, with the 6-foot-1 Tampus bunching seven points, unloaded 11 more against five by Cabanag to snatch the victory.
Tampus added 4 points and 3 assists to earn best player honors over Rashawn McCarthy, who posted 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals, and homegrown Mark Meneses with 12 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 assists.
Meca wound up with 10 points, the same as 6-foot-9 Ladis Lepalam, who snagged 4 rebounds.
Caloocan drew 14 points and 4 rebounds from Paul Casin, 10 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds from Cabanag, and 10 points from Joseph Manlangit.
The Pasay Voyagers rebounded with a 56-52 victory over the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys in the nightcap.
Beaten by Nueva Ecija in its first game, Pasay clustered nine points behind Laurenz Victoria to regain control, 52-46, and then fended off Ilagan Isabela’s last-ditch rally.
Jopet Soriano was chosen best player after compiling 14 points and 6 rebounds, edging Victoria, who tallied 12 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, and Warren Bonifacio with 12 points and 7 rebounds.
The Cowboys, who dropped to 1-1, got 12 points, 15 rebounds and 3 assists from Arth Dela Cruz, 9 points and 11 boards from Joshua Gallano, and 9 points each from JR Olegario and Allen Mina.
Reigning titlist Pampanga met stiff resistance from Imus before prevailing, 79-74, in the opener.
With six key players from last year’s back-to-back champions gone, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns needed to fend off the spirited Braderhood in the final period through Archie Concepcion, Chris Lalata, Renz Palma, Jhaymo
Eguilos, Raymond Binuya, and John Lloyd Clemente.
Back-to-back buckets by Palma pushed Pampanga ahead, 76-74, before Clemente split two free throws and Lalata sealed the win with two more charities, only three seconds left.
Binuya was named best player after posting 14 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds, while Concepcion poured all of his 12 points in the fourth quarter to go with 5 assists.
Lalata, recruited to fill up the slack left by back-to-back MVP Justine Baltazar, tallied 12 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals; Clemente contributed 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists; and Eguilos made 10
points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists.
Jayjay Caspe shone for Imus anew with 19 points, including back-to-back triples that pushed the Bardehood ahead, 69-67, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
The Braderhood, who dropped to 1-1, also got 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists from Kint Ariar, 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists from Jayvee Dela Cruz, and 11 points plus 6 rebounds from Regie Boy Basibas.
Pampanga, which controlled the boards, 52-41, surged ahead, 27-16, before Imus countered and seized control at 36-31.
The MPBL visits the Alonte Sports Arena on Friday with games pitting Bulacan against Pangasinan at 4 p.m., Marikina against Abra at 6 p.m., and Binan against Mindoro at 8 p.m.
