MANILA — General Santos survived a late run from Laguna to score a 69-66 home win in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Datu Cup at the Lagao Gymnasium in General Santos City on Thursday night.
The Warriors thought they were on their way to blasting the Heroes after limiting the visitors to just two points on 1-of-17 shooting in the first quarter.
But Laguna slowly recovered and went full throttle in the fourth quarter to take a 59-56 lead with 3:58 to play.
GenSan answered with a 7-1 run to reclaim the lead, 63-60, with 2:18 to go.
Ralf Olivarez scored on a triple to tie the game anew, 63-all, but the Warriors responded with five unanswered points capped by back-to-back baskets from Delmar Mahaling to put them up, 68-63.
Denok Miranda still kept the Heroes in the game with a huge triple that cut the lead down to two and a steal from John Orbeta.
However, Marlon Adolfo turned the ball over, and Leomar Losente had a chance to ice the game.
Losente still kept the door open for Laguna as he only made a split from the free throw line.
Miranda, however, badly missed a contested three-point attempt as time expired. (Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/PNA)
