The Mindoro Tamaraws warded off the Bacolod Tubo Slashers’ final assault to prevail, 76-63, on Wednesday and join the middle pack of the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Bacolod clustered nine points to move closer, 63-70, with 1 minute and 53 seconds left, only to be stymied by back-to-back triples by Ken Bono and Joseph Sedurifa that sealed Mindoro’s seventh win in 14 starts in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Nueva Ecija paces the race for playoff berths with a 12-0 slate, followed by Abra (11-1), San Juan (11-1), Zamboanga (11-2), Quezon Province (10-2) and Muntinlupa (10-2).
Sedurifa chalked up 24 points and 5 rebounds to clinch best player honors over Wendelino Comboy with 14 points and 3 assists, and Bono with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
Sedurifa canned 6 of 11 triple attempts while Comboy made 4 of 9 as the Tamaraws converted 12 of 33 tries for a 34.6 percent conversion rate against Bacolod’s 2 of 18 for 11.1 percent.
Bacolod suffered its fourth straight defeat and tumbled to 2-9 as only Chester Saldua, with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and PJ Intia, with 15 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds, struck back.
Inspired by the presence of team owner Mayor Jennifer “Ina” Alegre Cruz, the Tamaraws led as far as 62-46 before easing up on the Slashers, composed mainly of homegrown talents.
The MPBL returns to the Cuneta Astrodome on Thursday with games pitting Caloocan against Quezon City at 4 p.m., Davao against Zamboanga at 6 p.m., and host Pasay against Pampanga at 8 p.m.
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