Quezon Province had a smooth ride, while Batangas and Basilan experienced some bumps on their way to victories in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season on Wednesday at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
The Quezon Huskers battered the Paranaque Patriots by 28 points, 96-68, in the second game and climbed to fifth spot in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament with a 13-3 record.
Quezon, the reigning South Division champion, trails unbeaten Nueva Ecija (16-0), Abra (15-1), San Juan (14-1) and Zamboanga (14-3) in the chase for playoff berths.
The Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters sustained their recovery with a 74-68 tripping of Binan Tatak Gel in the nightcap, following Basilan Starhorse’s 84-70 conquest of Bataan in the opener.
Basilan banked on Arwind Santos and Emman Calo in the fourth quarter to level its slate at 8-8 and pull down Bataan to 6-12.
Batangas, powered by Levi Hernandez’s 21 points and Jong Baloria’s 12, notched its third straight win and improved to 10-7.
Mark Niel Cruz provided support with 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Batangas, which led 72-63 at the most.
Binan, which absorbed its third straight defeat and dropped to 9-7, got 13 points from Kenney Roger Rocacurva, 10 points and 8 rebounds from Marc Pingris, and 10 points and 6 rebounds from Michael Maestre.
Gearing up in the second half, the Huskers employed their full 15-man roster, headed by LJ Gonzales and Ximone Sandagon.
Gonzales posted 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, while Sandagon tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks as the Huskers led as far as 96-65.
Paranaque fell to 1-15 despite James Mangahas’ 21-points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists, Paolo Castro’s 17 poinys and 2 rebounds, and MJ Homo’s 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Santos fired 11 of his 15 points, and Calo seven of his nine in the last quarter as Basilan pulled away, 73-54.
Counting his four rebounds and 2 assists, Santos was given best player honors over fellow veteran Alex Cabagnot, who posted 16 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals; James Tempra with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals; and Adi Santos with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists.
Basilan ruled the boards, 50-40, and showed more cohesion with 27 assists against Bataan’s 11.
Bataan got 14 points and 8 rebounds from homegrown Yves Sazon; 12 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds from Hubert Cani; 11 points from Mitchelle Maynes, and 10 points from Lorenz Capulong and Jared Loi Vento.
Calo also posted 5 rebounds and 5 assists, while Gab Dagangon added 8 points and 5 rebounds for Basilan, which had won four of its last five games.
The MPBL goes to the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Thursday with games pitting Bulacan against Mindoro at 4 p.m., Imus against Bacolod at 6 p.m., and host San Juan against Pangasinan at 8 p.m.
