Red-hot Biñan survives Basilan

Streaking Biñan withstood Basilan’s final assault and prevailed over Basilan, 68-66, to gain ground in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2025 Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna late Thursday.

Ahead by nine points with 2:02 left, the Lagunenses went silent while the Viva Portmasters bunched seven points, highlighted by back-to-back triples by Sherwin Concepcion and Alex Cabagnot, to threaten at 66-68 with 32.5 seconds to go.

With time down to seven seconds, Biñan’s Carlo Lastimosa got fouled, missed his two free throws, but atoned by grabbing the offensive rebound and securing Biñan’s sixth straight win for a 7-3 slate in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

Lastimosa tallied 12 points, four rebounds and two assists, but Kristan Hernandez clinched Best Player honors with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Kenny Roger Rocacurva provided support with 10 points and three rebounds.

Beaten off the boards, 44-59, Basilan tumbled to 3-7 despite Alex Cabagnot’s 16 points, nine rebounds and 7 assists; Emman Calo’s 16 points, four rebounds and four assists.

The Portmasters also got nine points each from Concepcion and Adi Santos.

The Gensan Warriors trounced the Davao Occidental Tigers, 107-86, and climbed to the upper half with a 6-5 slate.

Kyle Tolentino shone for GenSan with 22 points, spiked by five triples, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Joe Lee Yu provided support with 17 points, laced with four triples, and so did Val Acuna with 14 points, and Larry Rodriguez with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Davao, which dropped to 3-4, drew 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks from Jefferson Comia; 14 points, six assists and two rebounds from Valandre Chauca, 11 points, four rebounds and four assists from Terrence Tumalip; and 11 points plus three rebounds from Tricky Dyn Peromingan.