Batangas, Binan, Basilan book MPBL wins

MANILA, Philippines — The Batangas City Tanduay Athletics greeted the second quarter with a 20-point cluster and went on to rout the Paranaque Patriots, 91-53, in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Paco Arena in Manila on Monday.

Ino Comboy presided over that Batangas blitz, firing 11 points on a jumper and three straight triples, followed by Rhinwill Yambing with five points as the Athletics pulled away to stay, 41-14, with 3:48 left before the half.

Atoning for his goal-tending violation that pushed Cebu past Batangas, 84-83, on April 22, Yambing finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and two steals, and was chosen the Best Player over Jhan Nermal, who tallied 16 points and seven rebounds; and Comboy, who recorded 13 points, three rebounds and two assists.

Only Domark Matillano struck back for Binan with 17 points and five rebounds.

Batangas raised its record to 5-2, trailing Caloocan (6-0), Gensan (6-0), Quezon Province (3-0), Ilagan Isabela (5-1), San Juan (4-1), and Abra (3-1) in the standings of the two-division, 28-team tournament.

Binan trounces Mindoro

Binan dumped Mindoro, 100-75, in the second game to climb to 4-3.

Nic Cabanero, former star of the University of Santo Tomas Glowing Goldies, posted a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds. Kenny Roger Rocacurva added 19 points and nine rebounds for Binan, which led as far as 65-34.

Other major contributors were Pamboy Raymundo with 13 points and two steals; Michael Mabulac with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three assists; and Marc Pingris with 12 points and five rebounds.

Mindoro, which skidded to 2-4, got 15 points, six rebounds and five assists from JJ Caspe; 14 points and three rebounds from Bambam Gamalinda; and 13 points plus four rebounds from Filipino-American Ashon Andrews.

Basilan dumps Bulacan

Basilan Steel leaned on John Wilson to trounce Bulacan, 86-78, in the opener.

Flashing the form that made him the 2019 Season MVP, Wilson notched 21 points, 10 in the fourth quarter, 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals to power Basilan to a 4-3 slate.

Wilson, who has been working out doubly hard to whip his 38-year-old body into tiptop shape, also emerged the game's best rebounder as Basilan ruled the boards, 46-40, en route to being named the Best Player.   

Jervy Cruz supported Wilson with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists, and so did Miles Canal with eight points and six rebounds, helping Basilan to enter the upper half of the standings.

Bulacan, behind Andrei Acop and Mart James Barrera, managed to move within 70-73, but Basilan countered with an 11-3 run to break free at 84-73 and hand the Kuyas their fourth loss against two wins.

Acop posted 23 points, six assists, three rebounds and two assists; Benedict Benedictos 16 points and five rebounds; and Eugene Gonzales 12 points and six rebounds.

The MPBL continues at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal, on Tuesday, featuring games between Marikina and Negros at 4 p.m.; Bacolod and Quezon Province at 6 p.m.; and Bataan and Pasig at 8 p.m. (Pool story)