Abra routed Iloilo, 77-55, while Mindoro and Pangasinan posted stunners on Saturday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the University of Bangued Gym in Abra.
The Mindoro Tamaraws pounced on the listless Quezon Huskers and prevailed, 66-61, in the opener while the Pangasinan Heatwaves banked on John Paul Maguilano’s buzzer-beater jumper to nip the South Cotabato Warriors, 52-50, in the second game.
Flaunting their deeper roster, the Abra Weavers led throughout and by as far as 73-45 late in the fourth quarter to notch their 12th win against 7 losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Alfred Ryan Batino, a 6-foot-5 banger, powered the Weavers with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals. Anthony Bringas, also 6-foot-5, provided support with 9 points, 6 rebounds plus 3 assists, and so did Niel Tolentino with 8 points plus 5 rebounds.
It was the second victory at home for the Weavers, who also drew 6 points each from Mark Yee, Jeepy Faundo, Roi Sumang and Andres Desiderio.
Iloilo suffered its fourth straight defeat and slid to 7-13 as only Omar Larupay struck back with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals plus 2 assists.
Pangasinan-South Cotabato was a thriller, with Warrior John Paul Calvo drilling in a triple to forge the seventh and last deadlock at 50, only 12.5 seconds left.
Ian Melencio shone in Pangasinan’s eighth win in 21 starts with 13 points plus 12 rebounds, and so did Allen Mina wit 9 points plus 4 rebounds.
South Cotabato tumbled to 13-7 despite Calvo’s 16-point, 6-rebound, 3-assist effort and Jammer Jamito’s 8-point, 9-rebound output.
Veteran Tey Teodoro fired 21 points, including 4 triples, and grabbed 4 rebounds to lift Mindoro to 6-15. Homegrown Jerrick Caspe backed him up with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals as the Tamaraws handed the Huskers their second straight loss in 18 starts.
Quezon dropped to third place behind Pampanga (19-1) and San Juan (17-2), but stayed in front of Nueva Ecija (15-2).
With Kint Sombero and Kint Ariar adding six points each, Mindoro led by as many as 53-43 in preserving a 28-26 halftime lead.
Judel Fuentes retaliated for the Huskers with 16 points, spiked by five triples (four in the fourth quarter), but only Jason Opiso provided help with 8 points and 11 rebounds.
The MPBL returns to the Alone Sports Arena in Binan on Monday with a triple bill pitting Sarangani against Negros at 4 p.m., Caloocan against Nueva Ecija at 6 p.m., and Zamboanga against Binan at 8 p.m.
