Giant Pandas break through, take down Titan Ultra

MANILA, Philippines -- Winless no more. 

The Macau Giant Pandas notched their first win in the PBA Governors’ Cup after storming back from 19 points down against the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, 131-126, Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. 

The Giant Risers could not hold on to their huge lead, as Macau held on late for the win. 

De’Vondre Perry carried the load for the Giant Pandas with 32 points on an ultra-efficient 12-of-15 from the field, to go with 22 rebounds and five assists. 

Ramon Cao added 28 markers and 13 boards, while Jenning Leung had 22 points, seven assists, four steals, three rebounds and a block off the bench. 

“Our first half was not acceptable. They just outplayed us and that was the speech at halftime. Like, hey man, get your head out your behinds and come out here and play hard. They're hustling and just hustling harder than us,” Macau head caoch Marcus Elliott said after the game. 

“But we were able to pull it together and from the look of it, we got six guys in double figures so I think that was the difference,” he added. 

Titan led by 19, 70-51, early in the third quarter after a triple by Fran Yu. 

The Giant Risers maintained a double-digit lead through the quarter, but slowly, the Giant Pandas found their stroke. 

A late triple by Leung pushed Macau ahead, 95-94, heading to the fourth, and they held a 116-108 lead with 6:38 left after a Perry layup. 

Joshua Munzon, though, towed Titan ahead, 120-119, with 1:52 left, but eight straight made free throws by Cao gave Macau the insurmountable 127-120 lead. 

And while Munzon fished for fouls from the 4-point area, the Giant Risers could not capitalize. 

Damian Chong Qui had 19 points for Macau, which rose to 1-4. 

Tirrell Brown II paced Titan with 30 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks. Munzon had 19 markers while Fran Yu had 17.