MANILA, Philippines – In the opening game of their quarterfinal series in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, Pasig defeated Quezon City MG Cars, 84-80, on Tuesday. This was because of Carlo Lastimosa’s steal and jumper that forced overtime.

With 4.9 seconds left and Pasig behind Quezon City, 76 to 78, Lastimosa made a floater to tie the score. Then, he saw Levi Dela Cruz of Quezon City miss a three-point attempt.

Only Kentoy Segura could score for Quezon City during the extra time, thus Lastimosa, Jason Melano, and Marc Tamayo’s two points apiece were the most they could muster. Nevertheless, their effort was enough to secure the fragile victory.

Melano had a remarkable evening as he scored 18 points to join the 1,000-point club for the MPBL, making him the tenth and most recent member. After all was said and done, Robbie Manalang had 14 points and five assists.

Allan Santos and Andrey Armenion contributed 14 points apiece, Jaymar Gimpayan scored 12 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Patrick Cabahug scored 23 points for Valenzuela.

Earlier, Judel Fuentes’ 36-point outburst helped San Juan defeat Quezon City 90-82 in their own best-of-three series. For the Go for Gold-backed Knights, Orlan Wamar added 15 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, and Egie boy Mojica contributed 11 points.

Dela Cruz scored 18 points for Quezon City, Marlon Monte scored 17, and Kyle Drexler Neypes scored 19.

Just when Quezon City appeared to be pulling off the biggest upset in the MPBL Playoffs thus far, the squad abruptly lost its composure, and Pasig won at home. 

After crushing QC in overtime, 84-80, the newly renamed Pasig-MCW Sports team successfully defended its home court, the Ynares Sports Arena, on Tuesday night. 

The seventh-seeded Capitals had a chance to beat their neighbors after shocking the Realtors in their regular-season match, but they were unable to win both games.

With two minutes remaining in regulation, QC had a 78-76 lead thanks to a crucial three-pointer by Marlon Monte. However, the team was unable to seal the victory, and even after Monte committed an error that allowed Carlo Lastimosa to score the game-tying floater and force overtime. 

QC led 80-78 after Kentoy Segura’s first basket of the extra period, but the team failed to score in the final 4:12 of regulation, including four consecutive missed free throws from Monte and Marcy Arellano, two players with a reputation for making their free throws.

For Pasig, Jason Melano contributed 18 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks to Lastimosa’s final line of 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. 

Melano became the newest member of the MPBL’s 1,000 Points Club with his fourth point of the contest, a layup off a Lastimosa feed with 3:34 left in the second quarter.

On October 25, the same opponents will be faced by Pasig and San Juan as they try to win consecutive matches and advance to the semifinal round.