QUEZON CITY TODA Aksyon banked on JP Cauilan to subdue Valenzuela, 73-67, on Thursday and muddle up the playoff race in the North Division of the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Cauilan poured 20 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, surpassing the Classic's 17-point total, and enabling the Capitals to tie their victims at 11-13 in the round-robin eliminations of the two-division, 29-team tournament.
QC and Valenzuela are disputing the North's remaining four playoff spots with Abra (15-7), Pasay (15-9), Caloocan (13-8), and Rizal (13-12).
Defending champion Pampanga (23-1), 2019 titlist San Juan (22-1), 2022 winner Nueva Ecija (19-3), and Manila (17-8) are sure to advance to the eight-team playoffs, where the top four qualifiers will have the homecourt advantage.
The 6-foot-4 Cauilan from National U wound up with 31 points, spiked by seven triples, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block, while Abdul Sawat also added 16 points and nine rebounds.
The Classic were still ahead, 65-59, with 4:15 remaining following back-to-back triples and a stepback jumper by Dennis Santos, but the Capitals held them to just two points while coming through with 14, nine by Cauilan, to snatch the win.
Valenzuela, which has won only once in its last six outings, got 16 points from Mark Montuano and 15 points plus six rebounds from Santos.
Mindoro, Pangasinan get big wins
Earlier games saw Mindoro subdue Muntinlupa, 79-76, and Pangasinan trounce Iloilo, 100-78.
Powered by JJ Caspe's 26 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and two steals and Jayvee Dela Cruz's 22 points and 4 assists, the Tamaraws rallied from a 16-33 deficit to climb to 9-16.
The Cagers, who tumbled to 7-18, got 14 points from Jacob Galicia and 10 each from Dave Moralde, Alfred Flores, and Warlo James Batac.
The Heatwaves, meantime, with Ralph Robin and Michael Juico firing 22 points each, led throughout and by as far as 75-100 in rising to 10-15. They were supported by Nathaniel Cosejo with 16 points.
The Royals dropped to 8-16 as only Omar Larupay and JR Ongteco fired back with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
The MPBL goes to the Cuneta Astrodome with games pitting Caloocan against Imus at 4 p.m., San Juan against Pampanga at 6 p.m., and Marikina against Pasay at 8 p.m.
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