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| LJay Gonzales delivers for the Quezon Huskers. MPBL |
LUCENA--Quezon Province survived Biñan's final assault and prevailed, 57-55, on Monday in Game One of the 747. LIVE presents Manny Pacquiao MPBL 2025 Season South Division Finals at the Quezon Convention Center.
Biñan could have forced overtime, but Marc Pingris overshot an open attempt inside with 1.1 seconds, allowing the Quezon Huskers to bolster their drive to retain the South crown
Ahead, 54-46, the Huskers got outscored in the last four minutes, 9-3, on a triple by Gab Banal.
His harrowing miss spoiled Pingris' valiant effort, making Biñan's last four points.
Judel Fuentes led Quezon with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, followed by Ximone Sandagon with 11 points and 3 rebounds, and homegrown Emman Tagle with 9 points, all from triples in the second quarter, and LJ Gonzales with 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Biñan drew 13 points and 9 rebounds from Warren Bonifacio, 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals from Pingris, and 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists from Kenny Roger Rocacurva.
Recovering from Quezon's 10-0 start, Biñan seized the lead at 24-22 on an inside thrust by Pingris.
Tagle, however, converted three clutch triples to push Quezon back on top.
The first half ended at 32-28.
Sandagon provided the highlights in the third quarter with a right-handed slam and a buzzer-beating tip-in that raised Quezon's lead to 50-38.
It could have been bigger if not for the Huskers' six misses out of eight charities in that span.
Game 2 will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Lucena Convention Center.
Ma. Andrea Endicio, Miss Tourism International Philippines 2025, was honored with her parents in tow before the game started.
Endicio is an MPBL courtside reporter from Candelaria, Quezon.
