By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--Allan Mangahas scored the winning shot as Muntinlupa weathered GenSan's last stand with a 61-60 win in the first Monday night offering of the MPBL Datu Cup at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Mangahas scored a one-handed jumper with 3.5 seconds left as the Cagers for just the second time under current head coach Aldin Ayo in an uncharacteristically low-scoring affair against the Warriors, who thought they already stole the win.
Down 53-59 with 2:38 to play, GenSan went on a 7-0 run to take the lead, 60-59, with 14.6 seconds left.
But Mangahas drove to the basket and threw up the one-hander to put Muntinlupa back up.
The Warriors still had one last chance to take the win, but John Orbeta's runner went overboard and Delmar Mahaling's follow-up failed to hit the target.
Reggie Basibas made 14 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and one steal, while Dhon Reverente added 13 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals for Muntinlupa, which reclaimed the solo top spot in the Southern Division standings at 9-2.
Orbeta came up with 19 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block for GenSan, which slipped to ninth place in the South at 5-7.
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