ORIN Catacutan scored five points, including the clinching foul throw with 6.7 seconds left, as the Valenzuela Classic rallied to stun the Pangasinan Heatwaves, 86-85, on Friday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Baskteball League) Sixth Season at the Wes Arena in Valenzuela City.

Other games saw Bataan gain a share of the lead with an 86-74 victory over Bacolod and Sarangani thwart Mindoro’s fiery rally, 99-93.

. Also playing key roles in Valenzuela’s reversal were Dennis Santos, who canned the game-tying triple with 32.8 seconds to go, and Michael Angelo Macion, who made two charities, against only four points for Pangasinan in the homestretch.

Valenzuela rebounded from its 76-82 loss to Zamboanga in the 30-team tournament inaugurals on April 6, while newcomer Pangasinan absorbed its second straight defeat even with multi-titled mentor Jerson Cabiltes at the helm.

Catacutan, a 6-foot-2 high-flying winger out of St. Clare College, wound up with 23 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block for the Classic of Coach Jhon Velasquez.

Valenzuela also drew 15 points and 3 rebounds from Nemesis Dela Cruz, 12 points and three rebounds from Macion, and 12 points plus seven rebounds from Santos.

The Heatwaves got 21 points, five assists, three rebounds from Ian Melencio, 16 points, 10 assists and three steals from Hesed Gabo, and 11 points from Ed Daquiaog.

It was a strong performance by Valenzuela, which held the lead for a total of 33 minutes and 32 seconds against only 4 minutes and 20 seconds for Pangasinan.

Bataan, which climbed to 2-0 in the company of Negros, Zamboanga and expansion team Abra, drew 15 points and 7 rebounds from Rhaffy Octobre, 11 points from Yves Sazon, 8 points plus 10 rebounds from Alex Ramos and 8 poinys plus 3 rebounds and 3 assists from jason Castro.

Bacolod, which dropped to 0-2, got 14 points and 4 rebounds from LA Casinilio, followed by Nichole John Ublade and Jacob Galicia with 9 points each.

Sarangani pulled away, 79-56, before the third quarter ended, only to see Mindoro cluster 18 points and knot the count at 91.

Sarangani, however, held its ground as Ryan Sual and Adven Diputado sustained their fiery showing and Felix John Villarente scored the game’s final four points.

Sual drilled in his sixth triple and wound up with 24 points, while Diputado added a charity to raise his total to 22 with 6 points and 4 assists as Sarangani rebounded from its 80-90 loss to Bataan on April 8.

Coy Aves was the other Marlin in twin digits with 14 plus 6 rebounds and 2 assists.

Mindoro, which fell to 1-1, drew 15 points, 3 reboudns and 3 steals from Rodel Vaygan, 12 points and 7 rebounds from Lester Reyes, 11 points and 4 assists from Andrew Estrella, and 10 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists from Kint Ariar.

Art Desiderio and Karl Bono added nine points each for the Tamaraws.

Over in Batangas City, Manila SV Batang Sampaloc wasted a 12-point spread but held on to beat Bulacan, 75-72, at the Batangas City Coliseum.

The Manila Stars clustered eight points, capped by a DJ Mitchell triple, to pull away, 73-61, with 2 minutes and 19 seconds to go.

The Bulacan Kuyas refused to yield and countered with a 9-point run to threaten at 70-73 with still 19.4 seconds left.

Enzo Navarro, however, calmly canned two free throws to seal Manila’s first win in two games with 13.9 ticks remaining.

Bulacan suffered its second straight defeat.

Manila, backed by Strong Group Athletics, was led by Carl Bryan Cruz with 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals. He drew support from Mitchell with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, Pao Javelona with 9 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds, and Ahmad Didat Hanapi with 9 points.

Navarro finished with 5 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds for Manila of Coach Gabby Severino.

Bulacan got 17 points from Nino Ibanez.