QUEZON Province trounced Caloocan, 66-56, on Thursday to grab the solo lead in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
With the count tied at 35, the Quezon Huskers clustered 12 points, the last eight by Jason Opiso, to pull away, 47-35, and went on to extend their winning streak to 11 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
The Huskers moved ahead of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (10) and kept their distance from the Pampanga Giant Lanterns (11-1).
Judel Fuentes led the Huskers with 15 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds, complementing the 13-point, 11-rebound effort of Ximone Sandagon and Opiso’s 10 points plus 3 rebounds.
Caloocan, which led at 20-14, dropped to 6-4 as the Batang Kankaloo’s guns misfired, with Reil Cervantes and Rommel Calahat emerging top scorers with 9 and 8 points, respectively.
Other games saw Zamboanga subdue Sarangani, 90-83, and Manila drub Imus, 96-58.
Powered by Joseph Gabayni and Bong Galanza, Zamboanga Master Sardines pulled away at 84-55 before cruising to its 10th win against 3 losses.
Gabayni wound up with 15 points, 17 rebounds and 3 assists while Galanza finished with 13 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds.
Top Gun Jaycee Marcelino posted 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks, while Jayson Castro Apolonio contributed 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists for Zamboanga Coach Louie Alas.
Sarangani dropped to 3-10 despite the 18-point, 3-rebound, 2-assist output of Ryan Isaac Sual and the 10-point, 11-rebound effort of Jebb Bulawan.
With 7-footer Greg Slaughter at the helm, Manila notched its fourth straight win and climbed to 9-4.
Slaughter tallied 20 points, 11 rebounds and 1 block in 17 minutes and 16 seconds of play as the Manila Stars ruled the boards, 58-39, and led throughout. He was supported by Francis Escandor with 16 points, 4 assists, 4 steals and 3 rebounds, Ahmad Didat Hanapi with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, and Carl Bryan Cruz with 11 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.
Imus, which tumbled to a league-worst 0-13 record, got 13 points and 5 rebounds from John Rey Sumido and 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals from Russelle Aniba.
The MPBL visits the University of Bangued Gymnasium for the first time on Saturday. The triple bill pits Marikina against Bataan at 4 p.m., Nueva Ecija against Paranaque at 6 p.m. and Rizal Xentromall against Abra at 8 p.m.
The Abra Weavers have won their last four for a 7-5 slate while the Golden Coolers have won back-to-back and tote an 8-4 card.