The Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers sustained their recovery in the MPBL 2025 Season with a breezy 101-76 victory over the Valenzuela City Magic on Wednesday at the Ynares Center Montalban in Rizal Province.
Held at bay in the first half, the Golden Coolers pulled away in the third quarter, 73-53, en route to their third straight win and an 8-3 record in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
READ Caloocan Batang Kankaloo sink Bacolod, move up MPBL leaderboard
Eric Camson, Samboy De Leon and Alwyn Alday combined for 25 points in that decisive period, outscoring the entire Magic, who pooled 19, including 11 by Jan Formento.
Camson posted 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals; De Leon 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists; and Alday 11 points plus 4 rebounds for Rizal Coach Ralph Rivera.
Other Golden Coolers who delivered were homegrown Jerie Pingoy with 12 points plus 2 assists, Mike Canete with 8 points plus 9 rebounds, and Keanu Caballero with 9 assists, 2 points plus 2 steals.
Valenzuela skidded to 3-8 despite Fomento's 20-point, 7-rebound, 5-assist output; JR Alabanza's 10 points and 11 rebounds; Lester Alvarez's 17 points and 2 rebounds; and Jonathan Gesalem's 13 points and 2 rebounds.
Earlier, Pasig banked on Chito Jaime's triple from the deep corner with 30.7 seconds left to stun Bataan, 88-85, in overtime.
Flashing his old, deadly form, Jaime finished with 23 points, spiked by six triples, 7 rebounds and 2 steals to clinch Best Player honors over Robbie Manalang, who forged the extension at 80-80 with a triple off a steal by Jaime and wound up with 19 points, 8 assists and 2 rebounds.
Homegrown Jerome Garcia added 17 points and 3 rebounds, and Lester Reyes 5 points and 13 rebounds as Pasig halted a five-game skid and improved to 3-5.
Bataan, which surged ahead at 45-28, tumbled to 5-7, putting to waste Robbi Darang's 16-point, 12-assists, 3-rebound, 2-steal output; homegrown Dante Paguio's 15 points and 6 rebounds; Crhis Javier's 10 points and 7 rebounds; and homegrown Jamil Gabawan's 9 points and 11 rebounds.
Caloocan Batang Kankaloo beat Bacolod, 74-68, and climb to 7-4 in the opener.
The MPBL goes to the Alonte Sports Arena on Thursday with games pitting Muntinlupa against Paranaque at 4 p.m., Gensan against Davao at 6 p.m., and host Binan against Basilan at 8 p.m.
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