PBA: Macau explodes in 2nd half to stun Titan Ultra for 1st win

De'Vondre dropped a 30-20 in Macau's first win in the PBA Governors' Cup. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Macau came alive in the second half and held off Titan Ultra for a 132-126 win in their PBA Governors' Cup game on Saturday night at the Ynares Center 1 in Antipolo.

Held to just 19 points in the first quarter and were down 16 by halftime, the Giant Pandas stood tall in the third quarter, outscoring the Giant Risers 44-27 to take a 95-94 lead entering the fourth.

The game remained tight in the final period with Titan Ultra retaking the lead 120-119 with 1:52 left, but an 8-0 run to cap a 37-point fourth put Macau ahead for good, even as Joshua Munzon, after fishing two straight four-point fouls in crunch time, could only go 5-for-8 from the free throw line in the end.

De'Vondre Perry led the Giant Pandas, who finally scored their first win in the conference after a 0-4 start, with 32 points on 12 of 15 shooting, 22 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and two blocks.

Ramon Cao added 28 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Jenning Leung, in his return to action, chipped in 22 points, three rebounds, seven assists, four steals, and one block off the bench.

Tirrell Brown led the Giant Risers, who dropped to 1-4, with 30 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, three steals, and two blocks.

Fran Yu contributed 17 points, seven rebounds, 14 assists, and one steal.

The Scores:

MACAU 132 – Perry 32, Cao 28, Leung 22, Chongqui 19, Lam 19, Ma 10, Liu 2, Chao 0, Lu 0

TITAN 126 – Brown 30, Munzon 19, Yu 17, Balanza 14, Javillonar 12, Ular 10, Sajonia 8, Dionisio 5, Pessumal 5, Sumang 2, Omega 2, Caralipio 2

QUARTERS:  19-35, 51-67, 95-94, 132-126