MANILA paraded Greg Slaughter and emerged triumphant over Binan, 79-63, on Friday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.

The 7-footer Slaughter delivered 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists to negate five turnovers and was chosen best player on his first stint in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.

It was far from being a Slaughter show, however, as Carl Bryan Cruz and Jan Jamon also shone for Manila SV Batang Sampaloc, which notched its sixth win against four losses.

Cruz posted 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block, while Jamon notched 14 points, including the dagger 3 that pushed Manila away, 66-54, with four minutes and 25 seconds to go.

Cruz then sealed Binan’s first loss after 6 wins by sinking 2 free throws, capping Manila’s 12-point cluster, 68-54, with only 4 minutes and 6 seconds left.

Biñan got 15 points and 5 rebounds from Jimboy Estrada and 11 points from Nino Canaleta.

Earlier, Rizal XentroMall nipped Bataan, 87-85, to rise to 6-3.

Kraniel Villoria starred anew for the Rizal Golden Coolers with 21 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals in 34 minutes and 3 seconds of play.

He was ably supported by Keith Agovida with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, Charles Dela Cruz with 15 points and 5 rebounds, Marco Balagtas with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists plus 2 steals, and homegrown John Apacible with 11 points and 3 rebounds.

The Bataan Risers, who dropped to 3-6, got 14 points each from Mitchelle Maynes and Dante Paguio, 13 points plus 8 rebounds from Rhaffy Octobre, and 12 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists from Robbi Darang.

Neither team led by double digits in the tight game that saw 11 lead changes and 7 deadlocks.

Davao survived a fiery rally by Pangasinan to prevail, 64-62, in the opener.

Coasting along, 61-53, the Davao Occidental Tigers watch as the Pangasinan Heatwaves threaten at 61-62 following a 9-point cluster by Ralph Robin.

Davao’s Jun Manzo split his two free throws for the final count as Pangasinan’s Hesed Gabo missed an ill-advised 3-pointer before the buzzer.

The Tigers, who drew 17 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists from Art de la Cruz climbed to 7-2 while the Heatwaves fell to 2-7. Manzo finished with 11 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.

Pangasinan got 17 points from Robin, 16 from Ed Daquiaog, and 12 points from Michael Mabulac.

The MPBL visits the Quezon Convention Center with Mindoro battling Pasay at 4 p.m., Iloilo tackling Quezon City at 6 p.m. and Batangas tangling with Quezon.

The scores:

First game

Davao (64) — Dela Cruz 17, Manzo 11, Lojera 6, Andrada 6, Simon 5, Gamalinda 4, Arana 4, Tumalip 3, Ighalo 3, Enguio 3, Martinez 2, Mancao 0, Sarangay 0, Bayla 0.
Pangasinan (62) – Robin 17, Daquiaog 16, Mabulac 12, Bautista 6, Gabo 4, Taganas 3, Melencio 2, Gabriel 2, Tolentino 0, Caasi 0, Javillonar 0, Meneses 0, Villamor 0, Dyke 0, Tan 0.
Quarterscores: 19-12, 32-28, 47-45, 64-62

Second game

Rizal (87) – Villoria 21, Agovida 16, Dela Cruz 15, Balagtas 12, Apacible 11, Alday 7, Pingoy 3, Casino 2, Argente 0, Bernardo 0, Alonzo 0, Jimenez 0, Timajo 0, Davis 0, Lao 0.
Bataan (85) – Paguio 14, Maynes 14, Octobre 13, Darang 12, Santos 7, Formento 6, Ramos 6, Ramirez 6, C.Bringas 3, Acuno 2, Vera 2, Soriano 0, Sazon 0, Grimaldo 0, Gabawan 0.
Quarterscores: 20-22, 40-40, 60-57, 87-85.

Third game

Manila (79) – Cruz 21, Jamon 14, Slaughter 12, Umali 6, Mitchell 5, Javelona 5, Escandor 5, Navarro 4, Al-Hussaini 3, Flores 2, Battaler 2, Cuya 0, Tempra 0, Hanapi 0, Gonzaga 0.
Biñan (63) – Estrada 15, Canaleta 11, Baetiong 6, Rocacurva 6, Helterbrand 5, Maestre 5, Actub 4, Pido 4, Alabanza 3, Chan 2, Manalang 2, Raymundo 0, Anonuevo 0, Grey 0, Alonte 0.
Quarterscores: 11-14, 32-32, 54-51, 79-63.