DAVAO Occidental was saved by a Hail Mary shot while Quezon got a reprieve from a missed free throw as they squeezed out overtime victories over Bataan and Zamboanga, respectively, in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season on Monday at the Orion Sports Complex in Bataan.

Jun Manzo’s desperation heave way beyond midcourt went in at the final buzzer, enabling the Davao Occidental Tigers to forge an extension and edge the Bataan Risers, 90-89, for their fourth win against a loss in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.

That improbable connection stunned the hometown crowd, who were jubilant after the Risers bunched 11 points, seven by Yves Sason, capped by a Jonnel Lastimosa triple from the deep corner, to wrest control at 77-76.

Kenneth Ighalo finally broke Davao’s nearly 5-minute scoreless spell with 26.2 seconds to go, only for Sazon to drive in and Robbi Darang add two charities for an 81-78 Bataan lead with only 1.5 seconds left.

But then Manzo intervened and Davao eventually pulled down Bataan to a 3-3 card.

Manzo wound up with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal to clinch best player honors over Arth Dela Cruz, who chalked 12 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals.

Zamboanga Master Sardines could have beaten Quezon Province in regulation play, but Jayvee Marcelino flubbed the first of two charities, enabling the Huskers to knot the count on a buzzer-beater drive by LJ Gonzales before controlling the extension, 82-77.

The Huskers climbed to 3-3 behind the 17-point effort of Gonzales, the 16 points of Will Gozum and the 12 points of Judel Fuentes, including four in extra time.

Zamboanga suffered its first loss in six games despite the 25-point output of Jaycee Marcelino and the 14-point contribution of Adrian Santos.

In the opener, the Manila Stars weathered the Sarangani Marlins’ final rally to tally a 90-87 victory that lifted their record to 4-2.

With the score tied at 84, Enzo Navarro, Ira Bataller and Pao Javelona combined for six points to negate the three charities of the Marlins, who slid to 1-5 despite getting 17 points each from Coy Alves and Bryan Isaac Sual.

Carl Bryan Cruz led Manila SV Batang Sampaloc with 25 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists, followed by Fil-Am CJ Mitchell and veteran Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who got ejected for a disqualifying foul in the third quarter, with 14 points each. Ahmad Hanapi contributed 10 points for the Stars.

The scores:

First game

Manila (90) – Cruz 25, Mitchell 14, Al-Hussaini 14, Hanapi 10, Umali 7, Javelona 5, Battaler 4, Tempra 3, Escandor 3, Navarro 3, Jamon 2, Cuya 0, Flores 0, Gonzaga 0.
Sarangani (87) – Alves 17, Sual 17, Galang 12, Villarente 10, Jumao-as 9, Peralta 7, Kawamura 6, Madayag 6, Destacamento 4, Sta.Ana 0, Benedictos 0, Clarino 0, Diputado 0, Oftana 0, Callano 0.
Quarterscores: – 17-25, 42-41, 66-63, 90-87.

Second game

Quezon (82) – Gonzales 17, Gozum 16, Fuentes 12, Sandagon 7, Lagrama 5, Banal 4, Matillano 4, Abundo 4, Saitanan 4, X.Torres 3, Minerva 3, Canon 2, Salonga 0 T.Torres 0.
Zamboanga (77) – Jc Marcelino 24, Santos 14, Barcuma 8, Gabayni 8, Jv Marcelino 6, Publico 5, Mahari 5, Apolonio 3, Alas 2, Omega 2, Strait 0, Ignacio 0, Subido 0, Terso 0, Celestino 0.
Quarterscores: – 11-22, 32-35, 51-51, 72-72, 82-77.

Third game

Davao (90)— Manzo 14, Dela Cruz 12, Tumalip 9, Ighalo 9, Arana 9, Lojera 8, Enguio 7, Nabong 7, Martinez 5, Sarangay 4, Bayla 3, Gamalinda 3, Mancao 0, Koga 0.
Bataan (89) –Sazon 18, Darang 12, Lastimosa 12, Paguio 11, Castro 11, Gabawan 10, Vera 5, Grimaldo 4, Acuno 2, Santos 2, Ramos 2, Octobre 0, Bringas 0, Torrado 0, Maynes 0.
Quarterscores: – 20-14, 33-31, 62-56, 81-81, 90-89.