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Axel Inigo and Jaypee Belencion shared scoring honors while Dhon Reverente controlled the boards as the Pasay Voyagers tripped the Quezon City Capitals, 92-89, on Thursday in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Season at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The wily Inigo and Belencion fired 22 points each even as Reverente came through with 18 points and 20 rebounds as they powered the Voyagers back into orbit with an 11-6 record in the North division of the 31-team league.
It was Inigo, however, who delivered the killer blow by sinking two free throws in the last six seconds for the final count.
Aaron Black tried to force overtime but missed his 3-point corner jumper two seconds later, sealing the Capitals fate of a third straight defeat and a 6-10 slate.
Other Voyagers who delivered were Elmar Moradas with 13 points and Raymund Ilagan with 10 points plus 12 rebounds.
Earlier, the Iloilo United Royals and Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines upstaged better-placed opponents.
Leaning on former pro Al Francis Tamsi and homegrown find Aaron Jeruta, the Royals stunned the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, 76-70, while Navotas struck from afar to trample the Mindoro Tamaraws, 72-57.
Tamsi and Jeruta fired 8 points each in the fourth quarter, where Iloilo erected a 61-53 lead and warded off the Lanterns’ final challenge to climb to a 9-6 record in the South division.
Despite the loss, however, the Giant Lanterns remained ahead of the Royals with a 10-6 card.
Posting a total of 18 points and 5 rebounds, Tamsi earned best player honors, edging Jeruta with 13 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds.
The Giant Lanterns got 17 points from John Dexter Maiquez, 13 from Michael Juico and 12 from Reil Cervantes.
Navotas, which buried 16 triples for 48 points as against only 4 triples and 12 points for Mindoro, was led by Osama Abdurasad with 14 points and Almel Orquina and Elmer Mykiel Cabahug with 12 each.
Sinking 12 of 15 charities, the Clutch improved to 4-10 in the North division, where they still trailed the Tamaraws, who fell to 6-10 despite the 18 points of Rodel Vaygan and the contributions of new recruits Cedric Penaflor and Mark Anthony Doligon.
The MPBL visits Strike Gym in Bacoor City on Friday with Cebu battling Soccsksargen in the 4 p.m. opener. Other games pit Caloocan against Bicol at 6:30 p.m. and Binan Laguna against Bacoor at 8:30 p.m.