ABRA and Binan trounced separate opponents on Tuesday and boosted their playoff bids in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Paco Arena in Manila.
The Weavers piled up a 22-point lead over Quezon City TODA Aksyon before coasting to a 78-70 victory and a 13-7 record in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.
Mark Yee and Paul Desiderio outscored all of the Capitals, 22-12, in the third quarter, pushing Abra ahead, 63-47, before Roi Sumang, Michael Canete, and Alfred Batino put the finishing touches in their third straight win.
Yee finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Desiderio contributed 14 points for the Weavers, who climbed to the fifth spot in the loaded North Division behind Pampanga (21-1), San Juan (19-1), Nueva Ecija (17-2), and Manila (15-6).
Canete wound up with 12 points and eight rebounds, as Sumang posted 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
QC, which dropped to 9-13, got 13 points from JP Cauilan and 11 each from Michael Are and Hubert Cani.
Binan Tatak Gel struck in the third quarter as well and never wavered to conquer Caloocan, 73-61, and climb to 13-8.
Binan now shares the sixth spot with Paranaque in the South Division being led by Quezon Province (17-3), Zamboanga (16-5), Batangas (15-7), Davao (15-7), and South Cotabato (14-8).
Kenny Roger Rocacurva led Tatak Gel with 18 points, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, followed by Michael Heinrich Maestro with 10 points plus three rebounds. They were supported by Pamboy Raymundo, KG Canaleta, and Jonathan Grey with eight points apiece.
The Batang Kankaloo skidded to 11-8 as only Jeramer Cabanag struck back with 15 points.
Rizal turns smiles upside-down
Rizal Xentromall clobbered Bacolod, 90-79, and rose to 12-10 in the opener.
Kraniel Villoria towed the Golden Coolers with 15 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and three steals, followed by Marvel Jimenez with 15 points on five triples, six rebounds, and four assists and J-Boy Gob with 15 points, six rebounds, and four blocks. Homegrown John Apacible also contributed 12 points and five rebounds.
The City of Smiles slumped to 1-21 despite the 17-point, 7-rebound, 7-assist output of Yvan Ludovice and the 17-point, 6-rebound, 5-assist, 2-steal effort of Danny Marilao.
The MPBL goes to the Batangas City Coliseum on Wednesday with a triple-bill pitting Bicolandia against Bataan at 4 p.m., Nueva Ecija against Davao at 6 p.m., and Paranaque against Batangas at 8 p.m.
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