QUEZON took the easy route towards the solo lead in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round on Friday at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
The Huskers had their way all throughout against the Bicolandia Oragons, 115-86, for their 10th straight win that pushed them past San Juan and Nueva Ecija, both with 9-0 cards, in the 29-team tournament.
Pitted against the lowly Oragons (0-12), coach Eric Gonzales fielded all 15 Quezon players at his disposal, and only one failed to score.
Lucena City Mayor Mark Alcala and Xyrus Torres led a balanced Huskers attack with 17 points each, with the former also adding four assists and a rebound.
Gab Banal contributed 10 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Domark Matillano added 10 points and five rebounds for Quezon, which led by as far as 84-48.
Abra, Paranaque triumph
Other games saw Abra rout Sarangani, 82-60, in the opener and Paranaque nip Caloocan, 73-69, in the nightcap.
Joshua Gallano bunched eight points to trigger a 15-point spurt that shoved the Patriots ahead, 72-56, en route to their eighth win against four losses.
The Batang Kankaloo countered with a 10-point cluster, but failed to reverse the outcome for a 6-3 card.
John Uduba tallied 14 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks, as Gallano wound up with 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Keith Pido also shone for Paranaque with 11 points, five assists, and three rebounds.
The Batang Kankaloo got 12 points each from Jeramer Cabanag and Paul Sanga.
For their part, the Weavers were powered by Mark Tallo's 15 points, six assists, five steals, four rebounds, and two blocks for their fourth straight win and seventh overall in 12 games.
John Lloyd Clemente and Michael Canete supported Tallo with 14 points each, as did Roi Sumang with 12 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.
Sarangani dropped to 3-9, as only Ryan Sual and Charles Callano struck back with 16 and 10 points, respectively.
The MPBL visits the Nueva Ecija City Coliseum in Palayan City on Saturday. The games pit Muntinlupa against Bacolod at 4 p.m., Bataan against Imus at 6 p.m., and Zamboanga against Nueva Ecija at 8 p.m.
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