QUEZON Province found a savior in Judel Fuentes to put away Iloilo, 71-61, on Tuesday and gain the solo lead in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
With the count tied at 58, Fuentes bunched nine points in a minute and a half, enabling the Huskers to finally ward off the Royals and tally their 13th win in as many starts in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.
Quezon moved ahead of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, who are also unbeaten at 12-0.
With Fuentes taken out after piling 15 points in the fourth quarter, Jason Opiso and Ximone Sandagon then took over with back-to-back drives, handing Iloilo its ninth loss in 14 games.
Sandagon wound up with 19 points and five rebounds, followed by Fuentes with 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists, and Opiso with nine points plus eight rebounds.
The Royals got 15 points from Gwyne Capacio and 13 points, six rebounds, plus five assists from CJ Cansino.
South Cotabato, Negros also winners
South Cotabato then clustered 10 points in the fourth quarter before besting Caloocan, 73-65, in the nightcap to climb to 11-4.
That spurt, presided over by Chris Dumapig, pushed the Warriors ahead, 73-65, from a once-eight-point deficit to the Batang Kankaloo, who fell to 7-5.
Enzo Joson paced South Cotabato with 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists, followed by Christian Fajarito with 16 points and five rebounds, Jammer Jamito with 12 points plus seven rebounds, and Dumapig with 10 points plus nine rebounds.
Caloocan got 18 points and six rebounds from Reil Cervantes and 10 points plus four rebounds from Joseph Manlangit.
Negros, meanwhile, bested Mindoro, 68-64, in the opener to break a five-game skid and improve to 5-10.
Jeremy Cruz and Renz Palma scored 17 and 16 points, respectively, for the Muscovados, but it was Jan Formento who keyed the bounce back win after contributing 12 points.
The Tamaraws, who dropped to 4-11, got 18 points from homegrown Jhon Jerrick Caspe, 14 points plus nine rebounds from Ken Bono, and 11 points from Teytey Teodoro.
The MPBL goes to the Olivarez College Gym on Thursday with a triple-bill pitting Bicol against Sarangani at 4 p.m., Imus against Zamboanga at 6 p.m., and Paranaque against Rizal at 8 p.m.
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