MUNTINLUPA and GenSan extended their win-runs while Pampanga made a strong start on Thursday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Bren Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

The Muntinlupa Cagers routed Quezon City Gaz N Go, 76-43, to climb to 5-0 and assume the solo lead in the single round-robin elimination round of the 29-team tournament.

The General Santos Warriors, reinforced by MPBL returnees John Wilson and Larry Rodriguez and veteran Jervy Cruz, posted a coast-to-coast 89-77 conquest of Laguna Krah Asia and improved to 3-0.

The Pampanga Giant Lanterns, with the touted Justine Baltazar in tow, dumped the Negros Muscovados, 79-66, to complete the day of breezy victories.

Wilson, the MPBL Lakan Cup MVP, fired a game-high 24 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, handed 4 assists and stole twice to earn best player honors.

Cruz provided ample support with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists while Rodriguez wound up with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks.

Nico Elorde also contributed with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal for GenSan, which pulled away at 28-12 and was never headed.

Laguna skidded to 2-3 despite getting 15 points from Nino Ibanez, 14 each from Francis Camacho and Paolo Quiminales, 13 from Paolo Paolo Pontejos and 11 from Jonathan Rivera.

Sowing terror inside with his 6-foot-8 frame, Baltazar wound up with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 block to complement the 18-point, 3-rebound, 3-assist, 1-steal effort of Archie Concepcion, who was chosen the game’s best player.

Michael John Garcia also delivered for Pampanga, which zoomed out of reach at 74-48, with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.

Negros fell to 1-4, negating the 21-point effort of league returnee Robin Rono, the 15-point, 8-rebound effort of Jason Melano and the 8-point, 13-rebound contribution of Edrian Lao.

Muntinlupa drew 11 points each from Ian Melencio and Manuel Mosqueda and 10 points from John Delos Santos.

Quezon City, which fell to 1-4, got 10 points and 6 rebounds from new recruit Andrei Duremdes, the 6-foot-4 son of MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.

The MPBL visits the Ynares Center Antipolo on Friday with another triple-bill pitting Bulacan against Nueva Ecija at 4 p.m., Pasig against Makati at 6 p.m. and Imus against Rizal at 8 p.m.

All MPBL games are now being aired live on Media Pilipinas Television on Cignal Channel 98.

… The games are also being streamed on the MPBL Facebook page and the MPBL YouTube channel. Cignal’s One PH also airs the third game every MPBL playdate (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) at 8 p.m.