MANILA, Philippines – At the Caloocan Sports Complex on Wednesday, Caloocan defeated Negros, 84 to 82, thanks to Jeramer Cabanag’s hot hand in the fifth season of the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League).

With a total of 19 points, Cabanag made three of his five three-point attempts, including the shot that decided the game in the fourth quarter.

The 29-team tournament’s single round-robin elimination round saw this triumph give Batang Kankaloo its ninth victory against four losses.

With one minute and 29 seconds left in the game, Pao Javelona’s three-point play gave Negros the lead, 82 to 81. However, Negros failed to score the rest of the way, and Cabanag’s three-pointer 16 seconds later turned the game around.

Cabanag received backing from veterans Reil Cervantes and Paul Sanga, who each scored 15 and 11 points.

Negros, currently 4 to 9, led 59 to 63 in the third quarter thanks to Sanga’s 10 points for Caloocan, but they were able to close the distance thanks to a 59 to 39 Negros advantage.

For the Muscovados, Javelona had 16 points to Jason Melano’s 18, with the latter missing a potential game-tying shot in the dying seconds.

Despite blowing a 40 to 20 lead over Iloilo United Royals earlier in the game, Imus SV Squad held on to win 61 to 58.

Jaymar Gimpayan added 10 points and 16 rebounds, and Carlo Lastimosa shone out with 15 points as Imus earned their fifth victory in their previous 12 games. Tony Ynot and CJ Catapusan both scored 12 and 11 points for Iloilo, which is presently 5 to 8.

In the first game, Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc. shocked everyone by defeating Laguna Krah Asia 73 to 69 in the final three minutes by scoring 10 points.

Luis Tapenio, a native player, had 15 points and 8 rebounds, while Jerome Ortega scored all 10 of Valenzuela’s points in the fourth quarter to help lead the comeback.

Despite Kenneth Acibar scoring 15 points, including 11 straight at the opening of the fourth quarter, Laguna’s record fell to 3 to 11, improving Valenzuela’s to 2 to 11.