QUEZON Province had a smooth ride, while Batangas and Basilan experienced some bumps on their way to victories in the MPBL 2025 Season on Wednesday at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
The Quezon Huskers battered the Paranaque Patriots, 96-68, and climbed to fifth spot in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament with a 13-3 (win-loss) record.
READ Arwind Santos leaves it late as resurgent Basilan rips Bataan
Quezon, the reigning South Division champion, trails only unbeaten Nueva Ecija (16-0), Abra (15-1), San Juan (14-1) and Zamboanga (14-3) in the chase for playoff berths.
The Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters sustained their recovery with a 74-68 tripping of Binan Tatak Gel in the nightcap, following Basilan Starhorse's 84-70 conquest of Bataan in the opener.
Basilan banked on Arwind Santos and Emman Calo in the fourth quarter to level its slate at 8-8 and pull down Bataan to 6-12.
Batangas, powered by Levi Hernandez's 21 points and Jong Baloria's 12, notched its third straight win and improved to 10-7.
Mark Niel Cruz provided support with 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Batangas, which led 72-63 at the most.
Binan, which absorbed its third straight defeat and dropped to 9-7, got 13 points from Kenney Roger Rocacurva, 10 points and 8 rebounds from Marc Pingris, and 10 points and 6 rebounds from Michael Maestre.
Gearing up in the second half, the Huskers employed their full 15-man roster, headed by LJ Gonzales and Ximone Sandagon.
Gonzales posted 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, while Sandagon tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks as the Huskers led as far as 96-65.
Paranaque fell to 1-15 despite James Mangahas' 21-points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists, Paolo Castro's 17 poinys and 2 rebounds, and MJ Homo's 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
The MPBL goes to the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Thursday with games pitting Bulacan against Mindoro at 4 p.m., Imus against Bacolod at 6 p.m., and host San Juan against Pangasinan at 8 p.m.
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