CALOOCAN and Pangasinan notched contrasting wins on Monday to rev up their drive in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.
The Caloocan Batang Kankaloo banked on Jeff Manday and homegrown Paul Hendrix Casin to stun the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters, 72-68, while the Pangasinan Heatwaves torched the Sarangani Grippers, 81-55, to boost their playoff chances in the two-division, 30-team tournament.
Caloocan, with Manday bunching 10 points in the last 2 minutes and 41 seconds, and Casin adding 7 points in the fourth quarter, improved to 14-7, right behind Pangasinan’s 13-6 slate in the round-robin elimination phase.
The Heatwaves are at fifth spot in the North Division behind pacesetters Abra and San Juan, both with 19-1 cards, Nueva Ecija (18-1) and reigning back-to-back titlist Pampanga (15=5).
Caloocan is No.6, pacing Pasay (13-8) and Ilagan Isabela (11-9).
Batangas fell to 12-8 despite Levi Hernandez’s 28 points and 3 rebounds, and Jeckster Apinan’s 9 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals.
Vic Manuel led Pangasinan with 22 points and 3 rebounds, Michael DiGregorio with 13 points, 5 assists, 5 steals and 4 rebounds, and Jorey Napoles with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists.
Sarangani slid to 8-13 as only Jeff Viernes struck back with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Davao Occidental Tigers pounded the Imus Braderhood throughout en route to an 88-65 victory in the opener.
Powered by Wowie Escosio and Keith Agovida, the Tigers led as far as 87-57 in climbing to 8-11.
The 6-foot-4 Escosio posted 22 points and 11 rebounds to capture best player honors over Agovida, who tallied 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, as the Tigers snapped a three-game slide and moved past the Braderhood, who tumbled to 8-13.
Joseph Terso also shone for Davao with 7 points, a game-high 10 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
The Imus gunners misfired, none breaking twin digits, with Kint Ariar and Jayvee Dela Cruz contributing 9 points each.
The Tigers ruled the boards, 55-38, and converted this to a decisive 66-30 edge in points in the paint.
The MPBL visits the FilOil EcoOi Centre on Tuesday with games pitting Bacolod against Quezon City at 4 p.m., Nueva Ecija against Bataan at 6 p.m., and Pampanga against Basilan at 8 p.m.
