Quezon Province, General Santos City and Zamboanga SIKAT hurdled their rivals to forge a six-way tie for the lead in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1XBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga City on Monday.

The Huskers flaunted their defense in a 58-45 victory over the Cebu Classic, the Warriors thwarted the Bataan Risers, 77-74, while Zamboanga pounded the boards to trip Sarangani, 82-67, in the round-robin elimination round of the 30-team tournament.

Quezon, Gensan and Zamboanga notched their second straight victory in as many outings and caught up with early pacesetters Abra, Pangasinan and Abra.

The Huskers stifled the Cebu gunners to just 30 points after three quarters then leaned on LJ Gonzales’ 10-point effort in the fourth to bolster their bid for a second straight South Division crown and another crack at the national title retained by the Pampanga Giant Lanterns last year.

Gonzales wound up with 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals to clinch Best Player honors over Jason Opiso, who posted 13 points and seven rebounds.

Vince Magbuhos was the other Husker in twin digits with 10 plus seven rebounds.

Only Darell Manliguez struck back for Cebu, which slid to 1-1, with 10 points, three rebounds and two assists. Lean Vincent Martel settled for nine points and four boards and Ladis Lepalam chalked six points and rebounds for Cebu, which trailed by as far as 58-41.

The GenSan-Bataan encounter was a thriller with the Risers climbing back from a 61-71 hole with 6:15 left.