THE Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters took solo second in the South division of the MPBL 2025 Season after outlasting the Davao Occidental Tigers, 66-62, on Tuesday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
The Rum Masters took an early 36-18 lead before repelling several rallies from the Tigers' end to take the hard-earned win.
Davao clawed to within three, 58-61, following a Joseph Terso triple but Mark Niel Cruz completed a three point play for the Rum Masters before Dawn Ochea's jumper sealed the deal for Batangas who improved to 18-8, moving past Zamboanga SiKat (17-8) while chasing the South leaders Quezon Province at 21-4.
Levi Hernandez led Batangas with 15 points followed by Philip Paniamogan with 13 points and Cruz's with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Davao tumbled to 9-15 despite another big night for Wowie Escosio who finished with 20 points.
Pasig keeps MPBL Playoff hopes alive
In the opener, Pasig City likewise hung tough in the end game as it foiled Marikina's comeback bid to take a 76-72 win.
The Shoemasters threatened thrice, the last at 70-74 with a minute and 40 seconds left, but the Pasiguenos had answers each time, the last one a follow-up basket by Warlo James Batac to seal the outcome, 76-70, with 28.4 seconds left.
Batac ended up with 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals to clinch best player honors over Jacob Galicia, who posted 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Marikina fell to 4-21, putting to waste Jay Yutoc's 22 points and four rebounds.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
