Batangas, Binan win MPBL playoff openers
MANILA, Philippines — The Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters pounded the boards and fortified their defenses to subdue their Zamboanga Sikat counterparts, 70-61, in the Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season quarterfinal playoffs at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Clogging the shaded lane, the Rum Masters posted a 57-34 edge in rebounds that resulted in a decisive 34 points in the paint against only 10 for the Zamboanguenos.
Cedric Ablaza, Levi Hernandez and Mark Niel Cruz took charge of the offense as Batangas surged ahead, 67-55, and moved within a win of advancing to the semifinal round in the South Division of the tournament that started with 30 teams.
Ablaza tallied 16 points, seven rebounds and two steals; Hernandez 15 points plus six rebounds; and Cruz 12 points plus four rebounds for Batangas, which got 12 and nine rebounds from Jeckster Apinan and Vincent Importante, respectively.
Joshua Torralba, playing his first game for Batangas, contributed nine points, two rebounds and two steals, followed by Dawn Ochea with six points, six rebounds and three rebounds.
Only Reggz Gabat struck back for Zamboanga with 12 points, five rebounds and two blocks, as chief gunner Abdul Sawat was held to four points, seven rebounds and four assists; JP Cauilan six points and four rebounds; and James Paul Una three points, three rebounds and three steals.
Binan Tatak Gel silenced Rizal Xentromall in the homestretch and won, 77-68, in Game 1 of their own South quarterfinal series.
With the Rizal Golden Coolers threatening at 68-70, the Lagunenses pulled off a closing seven-point run to move within a win of advancing to the semifinal round.
Carlo Lastimosa, Kenny Roger Rocacurva, Pamboy Raymundo and Jaymar Gimpayan shone for Binan, which controlled the game for 36 minutes and 51 seconds, leading by as many as 43-29, before Rizal rallied behind Eric Camson and Alwyn Alday in the fourth quarter.
Lastimosa finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and four assists; Rocacurva with 12 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals; Raymundo with 11 points and three rebounds; and Gimpayan with 10 points plus seven rebounds.
Rizal drew 19 points from Alday; 15 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, from Camson; and 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals from Michael Canete.
The Golden Coolers turned cold in the last 3:21, missing their final six attempts and allowing the Lagunenses to widen the gap at the buzzer.
Marc Pingris snagged nine rebounds to help Binan rule the boards, 44-31, and score more points, 44-34, in the paint.
The Golden Coolers were further hampered by their poor free throw shooting, making only 7-of-14 tries for 50%. In contrast, the Lagunenses converted 15-of-19 attempts for 78.9%.
Meanwhile, the MPBL North Division playoffs go to the Caloocan Sports Complex on Saturday, with Abra Solid North and Caloocan seeking to sweep their quarterfinal series with Ilagan Isabela and defending champion Pampanga, respectively.
The Abra Weavers are seeking a repeat of their 98-58 dumping of the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys at 6 p.m., while the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo wants to prove that their 65-61 conquest of the Pampanga Giant Lanterns was no fluke at 8 p.m.
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