Returning MPBL team Cebu carved out a thrilling 77-76 win over powerhouse Caloocan while Pasay survived a gutsy visiting squad Ilagan Isabela in a low-scoring match, 56-52, in the league’s 2025 season at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Limuel Tampus played quality minutes, pouring in 16 points in just 15 minutes of play and providing the spark needed by Cebu, which is coming back in the MPBL after a few years of hiatus.
Now carrying the moniker Classic, Cebu outscored Caloocan, 32-13, in the fourth quarter, led by a happy-shooting man named Tampus, who unloaded all his total output in that quarter alone, and provided the spunk needed by his team in pulling off a come-from-behind win.
The Classic fought back from 19 points down with Tampus, known in the Panalay circuit as ‘Boom Boom’ caught fire in the payoff period.
Host team Pasay repulsed a late rally by opening day host Ilagan Isabela before preserving a tough win.
No other player from the Cowboys was able to produce double-digit output except Art dela Cruz, who struggled for 12 markers and came away with 15 rebounds for his second straight double-double performance.
As a team, the Cowboys couldn’t shoot better than 27.5% from the field (19-of-69) and had a slow start, scoring only seven in the first quarter.
Pasay turned to Jopeth Soriano, Warren Bonifacio and Laurenz Victoria, who combined for 38 of the team’s total haul in points for the Voyagers.
Defending champion Pampanga outlasted Imus, 79-74.
