Rizal, Pasig book MPBL wins

MANILA, Philippines — The Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers sustained their recovery in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-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 turned hot and 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.

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, five rebounds and five steals; De Leon 14 points, five rebounds and three assists; and Alday 11 points plus four rebounds for Rizal Coach Ralph Rivera.

Other Golden Coolers who delivered were homegrown Jerie Pingoy with 12 points plus two assists; Mike Canete with eight points plus nine rebounds; and Keanu Caballero with nine assists, two points plus two steals.

Valenzuela skidded to 3-8 despite Fomento's 20-point, seven-rebound, five-assist output; JR Alabanza's 10 points and 11 rebounds; Lester Alvarez's 17 points and two rebounds; and Jonathan Gesalem's 13 points and two rebounds.

Earlier, Pasig banked on Chito Jaime's triple from 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, seven rebounds and two 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, eight assists and two rebounds.

Homegrown Jerome Garcia added 17 points and three rebounds, and Lester Reyes five 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, three-rebound, two-steal output; homegrown Dante Paguio's 15 points and six rebounds; Chris Javier's 10 points and seven 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.

Despite their edge in firepower, Batang Kankaloo couldn't break away from the Tubo Slashers, leading by nine points at the most, behind Joco Tayongtong's 11 points, five rebounds and two steals; Paul Sanga's 11 points and three rebounds, and Jeff Manday's 10 points and three rebounds.

The Tubo Slashers even led 19-13 before yielding the half at 30-35 and eventually dropping to 2-6.

Bacolod got 18 points plus four rebounds from homegrown John Lemuel Pastias; and 14 points plus eight rebounds from Miles Canal, another homegrown.

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.