Basilan and Bataan notched contrasting wins on Thursday in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
The Basilan Starhorse thwarted the Mindoro Tamaraws’ last-ditch assault and prevailed, 84-77, while the Bataan Risers rallied to shock the Pasay Voyagers, 86-84, in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Ahead, 75-64, with 6 minutes and 10 seconds left, Basilan needed to fend off Mindoro’s 10-2 run to tally its third straight victory and climb to 6-7 in the chase for playoff spots.
Jonas Tibayan made the first of two free throws to move Mindoro closer, 75-79, but Basilan’s Reymar Caduyat came through with two charities and a triple for the final count.
Adi Santos posted 20 points and 5 rebounds, but it was veteran Alex Cabagnot who clinched best player honors with a near triple-double 16 points, laced by four triples, 10 assists and 9 rebounds for Basilan.
Emman Calo provided support with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals as Basilan’s 10-man rotation pulled down Mindoro to 7-8.
The Tamaraws got 14 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists from Jun Manzo, 13 points, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 rebounds from Wendelino Comboy, 11 points and 4 rebounds from Tibayan, and 10 points plus 5 rebounds from Fil-Am Ashon Andrews.
Bataan trailed Pasay, 74-81, following a triple by Dan Sara, but countered behind Lorenz Capulong, Chris Javier, Yves Sazon and Dom Vera to seize control at 86-83 with 12 seconds left.
Pasay’s Jasper Salenga canned his first charity, but missed the second, although the Voyagers retained ball possession with 4 seconds to go.
The Voyagers’ Warren Bonifacio got fouled underneath, but muffed the first charity, forcing him to also miss the second.
Jopet Soriano skied for the offensive rebound and then fired a buzzer-beater jumper that didn’t go in, allowing Bataan to snap a three-game slide and improve to 6-9.
Robbi Darang led Bataan with 18 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds, followed by Capulong with 15 points and 5 rebounds, Vera with 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, and Hubert Cani with 10 points and 5 assists.
Pasay fell to 8-7 despite Bonifacio’s 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, Soriano’s 15 points and 2 rebounds, Cyrus Tabi’s 10 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, AJ oronel’s 11 points and 5 rebounds, and Salenga’s 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
Sarangani led throughout and drubbed Cebu, 119-95, in the opener.
Powered by Kyt Jimenez and King Destacamiento, the Sarangani Grippers surged ahead, 35-19, after the first quarter and proceeded to notch their first back-to-back win and catch up with the Cebu Classic at 4-10.
Jimenez, owner of the MPBL’s lone quadruple-double, posted 23 points, highlighted by seven triples, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals to earn best player honors over Destacamiento, who tallied 21 points, 13 in the first period, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Other Grippers who shone for Coach John Kallos were Lars Sunga with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, Martin Gozum with 15 points and 2 assists, Jeymark Mallari with 12 points, 7 assists and 2 rebounds, and Coy Alves with 11 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists.
The Cebu Classic fielded only eight mostly homegrown players and suffered their third straight defeat despite the 22-point, 8-rebound, 7-assist, 2-steal effort of Jeco Bancale.
Cebu also got 15 points and 5 rebounds from Dolan Adlawan, 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists from Brylee Ivan Meca, 13 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals from Dennis Santos, and 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists from Jameson Hiro.
Sarangani outscored Cebu in the paint, 80-42 and fast breaks, 47-21, to build a 95-69 buffer with 9 minutes left.
The MPBL returns to the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando with games pitting Valenzuela against Pasig at 4 p.m., Zamboanga against Batangas at 6 p.m., and host Pampanga against Nueva Ecija at 8 p.m.
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