THE Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters pounded the boards and fortified their defenses to subdue their Zamboanga Sikat counterparts, 70-61, in the MPBL 2025 Season quarterfinal playoffs at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Clogging the shaded lane, the Rum Masters posted a 57-34 edge in rebounds that resulted in a decisive 34 points in the paint against only 10 for the Zamboanguenos.
Cedric Ablaza, Levi Hernandez and Mark Niel Cruz took charge of the offense as Batangas surged ahead, 67-55, and moved within a win of advancing to the semifinal round in the South Division of the tournament that started with 30 teams.
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Ablaza tallied 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals, Hernandez 15 points plus 6 rebounds and Cruz 12 points plus 4 rebounds for Batangas, which also got 12 and 9 rebounds from Jeckster Apinan and Vincent Importante, respectively.
Joshua Torralba, playing his first game for Batangas, contributed 9 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals, followed by Dawn Ochea with 6 points, 6 rebounds and 3 rebounds.
Reggz Gabat led Zamboanga with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks, but chief gunner Abdul Sawat was held to 4 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, JP Cauilan 6 points and 4 rebounds, and James Paul Una 3 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals.
Binan takes opener
Binan Tatak Gel silenced Rizal Xentromall in the homestretch and won, 77-68, in Game One of their own South quarterfinal series.
With the Rizal Golden Coolers threatening at 68-70, the Lagunenses pulled off a closing 7-point run to move within a win of advancing to the semifinal round.
Carlo Lastimosa, Kenny Roger Rocacurva, Pamboy Raymundo and Jaymar Gimpayan shone for Binan, which controlled the game for 36 minutes and 51 seconds, leading by as many as 43-29, before Rizal rallied behind Eric Camson and Alwyn Alday in the fourth quarter.
Lastimosa finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists, Rocacurva with 12 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, Raymundo with 11 points and 3 rebounds, and Gimpayan with 10 points plus 7 rebounds.
Rizal drew 19 points from Alday, 15 points, including 8 in the fourth quarter, from Camson, and 10 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals from Michael Canete.
The Golden Coolers turned cold in the last 3 minutes and 21 seconds, missing their final six attempts and allowing the Lagunenses to widen the gap at the buzzer.
Marc Pingris snagged 9 rebounds to help Binan rule the boards, 44-31, and score more points, 44-34, in the paint.
The Golden Coolers were further hampered by their poor free throw shooting, making only 7 of 14 tries for 50 percent. In contrast, the Lagunenses converted 15 of 19 attempts for 78.9 percent.
The MPBL North Division playoffs go to the Caloocan Sports Complex on Saturday, with Abra Solid North and Caloocan seeking to sweep their quarterfinal series with Ilagan Isabela and defending champion Pampanga, respectively.
The Abra Weavers are seeking a repeat of their 98-58 dumping of the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys at 6 p.m., while the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo wants to prove that their 65-61 conquest of the Pampanga Giant Lanterns was no fluke at 8 p.m.
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