DEFENDING champion Pampanga trounced Negros, 104-81, to extend its hot streak in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

South Cotabato shared the limelight following a come-from-behind 82-81 victory over Biñan Tatak Gel Beast Motorcycle Game X in the nightcap.

Exploiting their height and firepower advantage, the Giant Lanterns sped beyond reach, 92-63, en route to their 10th straight win after an initial loss, staying close to 9-0 pacesetters San Juan Knights, Quezon Huskers and Nueva Ecija Vanguards.

Showing why he’s the reigning MPBL MVP, the 6-foot-8 Baltazar chalked up a triple double of 18 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists that enabled Pampanga to rule the boards, 67-46, and pull down Negros to 4-8.

Encho Serrano backed Baltazar with 20 points, 4 rebounds plus 2 assists and so did Jeff Viernes with 16 points plus 4 assists and Archie Concepcion with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

The Muscovados got 30 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals from Renz Palma, 13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals from Alvin Capobres and 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks from James Paul Una.

While the Giant Lanterns had a blast, the South Cotabato Warriors needed the heroics of Christian Fajarito to crawl out of a 48-64 hole before squeezing out their fifth straight win for a 9-3 sate.

South Cotabato still trailed Binan, 62-73, when Fajarito poured 8 in a 12-point spurt to put South Cotabato ahead, 74-73.

Biñan regained the lead, 81-78, but Jammer Jamito knocked in two charities and Fajarito drilled in a one-handed floater with 10.7 seconds left for the final count that relegated Binan to a 6-3 card.

Fajarito wound up with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals while Jamito posted 13 points plus 11 rebounds.

Other Warriors who delivered were Nico Elorde with 10 points, 8 assists and 2 steals, Val Acuna with 10 points, 2 rebounds plus 2 assists, and Enzo Joson with 9 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

Biñan drew 19 points and 11 rebounds from Jaymar Gimpayan and 15 points and 4 rebounds from Nino Canaleta.

Manila SV Batang Sampaloc dumped Quezon City TODA Aksyon, 76-57, behind Francis Escandor and Ahmad Didat Hanapi in the opener to post its third straight win and rise to 8-4.

Escandor hit 5 of 6 triple tries and finished with 19 points plus 4 rebounds and 2 assists while Hanapi ended up with 14 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

James Sena chalked 10 points and 3 rebounds while Carl Bryan Cruz added 9 points and 7 rebounds for Manila, which stormed ahead at 62-40, early in the fourth quarter.

Fielded for just 12 minutes and 28 seconds, 7-footer Greg Slaughter settled for 8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists for Manila, which got 12 assists and 6 rebounds from Enzo Navarro.

Brandrey Bienes and Rafael Are scored 19 and 13 points, respectively, for Quezon City, which got clobbered off the boards, 33-53, and tumbled to 4-7.

MPBL Founder and CEO Manny Pacquiao watched the South Cotabato-Biñan tussle with his wife Jinkee and son Michael, who’s officially the team owner of the Warriors.

The scores:

First game

Manila (76 )– Escandor 19, Hanapi 14, Sena 10, Cruz 9, Slaughter 8, Flores 6, Mitchell 3, Jamon 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Umali 2, Tempra 0, Javelona 0, Navarro 0, Gonzaga 0, Battaller 0.
Quezon City (57) — Bienes 19, R.Are 13, Cosari 5, Mosqueda 5, Gesalem 5, Cauilan 3, Yambing 3, Roman 2, Desoyo 2, Nimes 0, Lo 0, Josef 0, Sawat 0, Ballesteros 0, Tibayan 0.
Quarterscores: 15-18, 36-29, 55-36, 76-57.

Second game

Pampanga (104) — Serrano 20, Baltazar 18, Viernes 16, Conception 13, Garcia 6, Corteza 6, Flores 6, Reyson 5, Alcoriza 5, Santos 4, Gob 3, Gozum 2, P.Garcia 0, De Leon 0, Binuya 0.
Negros (81) — Palma 30, Capobres 13, Una 12, Cani 6, Longa 5, Alcaide 4, Atabay 4, Comia 3, Bacay 2, Cruz 2, Geolingo 0, Antiporda 0, Ramos 0, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 16-20, 41-29, 69-58, 104-81.