THE Pangasinan Heatwaves turned hot in the fourth quarter and torched the Valenzuela City Magic, 114-90, on Friday to rev up their drive in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Ahead by 10 points after three quarters, the Heatwaves rode on Hesed Gabo, Michael Mabulac, John Paul Maguiliano and Jhapz Bautista in the last 10 minutes to pad their lead to 112-85 and tally their 12th win in 18 starts.
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The Cebu Greats, on the other hand, clamped down on Imus Braderhood in the homestretch and prevailed, 76-63, in the nightcap to keep their faint playoff hopes.
The Greats, leaning on JR Quinahan, Mark Tallo, Jan Jamon and Mark Meneses, held the Braderhood to four points while coming through with 14 in the last 5 minutes and 23 seconds to snap a 7-game slide and improve to 5-14.
Quinahan notched 14 points and 2 rebounds, Tallo 12 points and 4 rebounds, Jamon 9 points and 5 rebounds, and Meneses 4 points plus 10 rebounds to complement the 13-point, 5-assist, 2-rebound effort of Jun Manzo and Lan Vincent Martel's 9 points plus 6 rebounds.
Imus, which stumbled to 8-12, drew 17 points and 4 rebounds from Jayvee Dela Cruz, 16 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists from Mark Doligon, and 11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals from Regie Boy Basibas.
Mabulac made 10 of his 11 field goal attempts en route to 24 points, 3 blocks and 2 rebounds, and the Best Player honors over Gabo, who finished with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, and
Kriss Kelly Gurtiza, who notched 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
Maguilano chalked up 13 points and 11 rebounds, Bautista 13 points plus 2 steals, and Lervin Flores 6 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Valenzuela absorbed its sixth straight loss and tumbled to 4-16 despite the 20-point, 7-rebound, 6-assist and 2-steal effort of Jan Formento.
The Magic, who led at 44-41, also drew 14 points from Adven Diputado and Jonathan Ralf Gesalem, 11 from Kobe Monje, and 10 from Arvie Bringas.
The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys led throughout in a 99-73 dumping of the Bacolod Tubo Slashers in the opener.
Mark Dyke presided over the Cowboys' third straight win and 10-8 record with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Jerie Pingoy added 15 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, and Agem Miranda had 14 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds.
Joshua Guiab contributed 10 points and 2 rebounds, while Donald Gumaru added 9 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in the Cowboys' bid to make the playoffs in their maiden stint.
Hitting 12 triples against only four for the Tubo Slashers, the Cowboys led as far as 93-57 before slowing down in the fourth quarter where they got outscored, 12-20.
Bacolod tasted its 11th straight defeat and fell out of the playoff race with a 2-16 slate.
The Tubo Slashers got 12 points and 3 rebounds from Mark Rey Malazarte, 11 points and 9 rebounds from Jerick Villanueva, and 11 points plus 3 rebounds from homegrown Mark Ray Dubouzet.
The MPBL returns to the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City on Saturday with games pitting San Juan against Quezon City at 4 p.m., Pasig against Rizal at 6 p.m., and the pacesetting Rice Vanguards (18-0) against second-running Abra at 8 p.m.
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