Quezon bests Binan to defend MPBL South title
MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon Huskers poured their reserve power in the second half to beat Binan Tatak Gel, 56-49, and retain the South Division crown in the 747 Live presents Manny Pacquiao MPBL 2025 Season at the overfilled Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
Trailing for most of the first half, the Huskers seized control after three quarters, 38-36, clustered nine points early in the fourth to break free, 47-39, and take the best-of-five series, 3-2, to barge into the MPBL National Finals against the Abra Solid North Weavers, the North Division champions.
Ljay Gonzales, rested in the second quarter, took charge when it mattered, firing eight of his game-high 14 points in the last ten minutes, to go with 2 assists and 2 rebounds to clinch best player honors.
Vince Magbuhos provided support with 13 points and nine rebounds, followed by Joshua Yerro with eight points and Christian Pagaran with seven.
Their pooled effort compensated for the absence of top gunner Judel Fuentes, who injured his left ankle in Game 4. Will Gozum and JP Sarao, on the other hand, were not in Quezon's submitted lineup for the game.
Binan, which scored only six points in the third quarter and 19 in the second half, drew 10 points from Pamboy Raymundo, nine points from Carlo Lastimosa, and seven each from Jaymar Gimpayan and Kenny Roger Rocacurva.
With Joseph Gabayni also snagging nine rebounds, the Huskers ruled the boards, 44-38, despite Rocacurva's 10 rebounds.
Binan's Marc Pingris was held to four points and four rebounds while Warren Bonifacio went scoreless with five rebounds and two assists in Game 5, which lured over 7,300 fans and live views of 76,000.
Last year, Quezon subdued Batangas in the South Finals but got swept, 0-3, by the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, the North back-to-back champions, in the National Finals.
Binan silenced Quezon for six minutes and bunched 14 points, the first six by Lastimosa, to seize control at 16-9 in the first quarter.
Rocacurva and Yerro traded triples to close the half at 30-25, Binan ahead.
Quezon won Game 1, 57-55, and Game 3, 66-56, while Binan took Game 2, 68-55, and Game 4, 57-53.
MPBL Chief Executive Officer Joe Ramos and Operations Head Emmer Oreta awarded the championship trophy to the Huskers, headed by coach Eric Gonzales, team manager Atty. Donn Kapunan, and Quezon Gov. Helen Tan.
The MPBL National Finals start on December 10 at the Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued, Abra.
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