Vic Manuel made an impressive debut in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), leading the Pangasinan Heatwaves to a thrilling 95-86 victory over the Bataan Risers in the nightcap of the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Robert Estrella Sr. Memorial Gym in Rosales, Pangasinan.
Trailing 84-86 in the final two minutes, the Heatwaves unleashed a decisive scoring spree powered by Manuel, Michael Mabulac, Lervin Flores, and Michael DiGregorio to secure their first win of the season.
Manuel lived up to the hype in his MPBL debut, exploding for 23 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, a steal, and a block to earn Best Player honors.
Jorey Napoles also shone with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal.
Mabulac added 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists, while DiGregorio chipped in 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Ralph Robin contributed 11 points and 2 rebounds.
Bataan, which led for nearly 26 minutes, relied on Jeff Santos and Yves Sazon, who both tallied 12 points, while Chris Javier and Robbi Darang added 11 markers each.
Meanwhile, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards leaned on Jaycee Marcelino’s clutch performance to turn back the Pasay Voyagers, 84-72.
With the Voyagers tying the game at 70, Marcelino unleashed eight points in a crucial 14-0 run that sealed the victory for the 2022 MPBL champions with 1:10 remaining.
Marcelino finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block but yielded Best Player honors to Ralph Tansingco, who paced Nueva Ecija with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 steal in their first outing of the MPBL’s seventh season.
Jammer Jamito added 13 points, 3 steals, and 2 rebounds, while Billy Robles contributed 8 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. John Byron Villarias chipped in 8 points and 2 rebounds.
For Pasay, Cyrus Tabi led the charge with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Warren Bonifacio provided 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals, while AJ Coronel added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Homegrown talent Brian Wendel Hilario chipped in 10 points.
In the opener, the Imus Braderhood rallied behind Jhon Jerrick Caspe’s late-game explosion to stun the Mindoro Tamaraws, 83-75.
Caspe, a former Mindoro standout, erupted for 15 of his game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Tamaraws’ 14-point total in that span. He also contributed 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals to earn Best Player honors.
Mark Anthony Doligon added 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Regie Boy Basibas chipped in 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Jaypee Belencion contributed 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Jayvee Dela Cruz finished with 9 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds for Imus.
Despite trailing 38-52 earlier, Imus surged ahead, 67-64, following a triple by Belencion and seven straight points by Caspe.
Mindoro’s Ken Bono and Wendelino Comboy scored 14 points each, while Jun Manzo and Bambam Gamalinda added 9 points apiece. The Tamaraws built a 41-32 halftime lead before faltering down the stretch.
The MPBL continues on Tuesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, featuring Manila Batang Quiapo against Marikina at 4:00 PM, Bulacan against Quezon TODA Aksyon at 6:00 PM, and Rizal Xentromall against Basilan Viva at 8:00 PM.
