Cao fuels Macau's 19-point comeback, lifts Pandas past Giant Risers

Macau rallied from a 19-point deficit to stun Titan Ultra, 132-126, and capture its first victory in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors' Cup on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Giant Pandas erupted for 81 second-half points to overturn the deficit and improve to 1-4 in Group A after opening the conference with four straight losses.

Ramon Cao took over in the closing minutes, scoring 11 of Macau's final 13 points to seal the comeback. The veteran big man finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds in 30 minutes, highlighted by seven consecutive points that turned a 120-119 deficit with 1:52 remaining into a 126-120 lead with just over 30 seconds left.

De'Vondre Perry also delivered key baskets late before Cao's putback put the game out of reach.

"We were just able to piece it together today. But we started off badly too. Our first half was not acceptable. They just outplayed us," Macau head coach Marcus Elliott said.

"My speech at halftime was, 'Hey, man, get your head out of your behind and come out and play hard. They're just outhustling us,' but we were able to put it together."

Perry powered Macau with a dominant double-double of 32 points and 22 rebounds while adding five assists. Jenning Leung returned with 22 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and four steals.

Kobey Lam and Damian Chongqui added 19 points apiece, while Jeffrey Ma chipped in 10 as Macau exploded for 44 points in the third quarter to seize the momentum.

The victory snapped Macau's four-game skid and halted Titan Ultra's bid for consecutive wins after its upset of TNT earlier in the week.

Titan Ultra squandered a double-digit lead as its defense faltered after halftime.

Import Tirrell Brown finished with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists for the Giant Risers. Joshua Munzon added 19 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Fran Yu recorded 17 points and a career-high, franchise-record 14 assists.

Jerrick Balanza, Pao Javillonar, and Ato Ular also scored in double figures for Titan Ultra.

Macau will face Terrafirma on July 29 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, while Titan Ultra takes on San Miguel Beer later that evening.