Ilagan Isabela banked on top gunner Arthur dela Cruz and sniper Allen Mina to rout Parañaque, 77-62, and gain traction in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season at the Olivarez College Gymnasium in Parañaque.

Dela Cruz posted 15 points, a game-high 16 rebounds, seven assists and one steal to earn the Best Player honors as the Cowboys climbed to a 4-4 card in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

Mina, a former Letran Knight, drilled in half his 18 field goal attempts en route to 20 points, including two triples, and added four rebounds.

Gab Gomez also delivered for Cowboys coach Louie Gonzalez with eight points, four assists and two rebounds, and so did JR Olegario with six points, four rebounds and two assists.

The Patriots suffered their third straight defeat despite Jayboy Solis’ 15 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks, Paolo Castro’s 13 points and Carl Bryan Cruz’s 11 points plus six rebounds.

With Dela Cruz and bruisers Allan Santos and Mark Dyke pounding the boards, the Cowboys snared more rebounds, 51-41, and converted this to more points in the paint, 34-22, and second chance points, 17-6.

Wendelino Comboy drove in for the buzzer-beater that lifted Mindoro past Zamboanga SiKat, 81-79, in the opener.