Imus ruled the boards and bounced back with a 122-111 victory over Manila in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season at the Marikina Sports Complex on Friday.

Powered by homegrown Eroll Soriano and Jayjay Caspe, Imus pulled away, 100-79, after three quarters and proceeded to level its slate at 6-6 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

Cebu cruised past Mindoro, 85-72, afterwards, while Marikina started hot and trounced Bulacan, 100-90, in the nightcap.

The 6-foot-3 Soriano posted 25 points and 13 rebounds, while Caspe tallied 23 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals to clinch the Best Player honors.

Kint Ariar, a former Letran Knight, delivered 11 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and three blocks; Mark Doligon 16 points, six assists and three rebounds; and Regie Boy Basibas 13 points, eight rebounds and two assists for Imus, which posted a huge 66-42 edge underneath.

Manila tasted its 10th straight loss after an initial win despite John Ashley Faa’s triple-double 24 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists to go with four steals, and Richard Albo’s 25 points plus four rebounds.

Batang Quiapo also got 15 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals from Achie Inigo, 10 points plus nine rebounds from Marvin Alvarez, 10 points plus four rebounds from Dekoy Lopez, and 10 points from Dustin Ambrosio.

Ahead, 46-33, the Cebu Classic bunched 11 points, capped by a triple by 6-foot-8 Ken Holmqvist, to pull away for good and improve to 4-7.

Limuel Tampus led Cebu with 19 points, 12 rebounds and three assists, followed by John Jabonete with 11 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, Mark Meneses with 10 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and two blocks, and Darell Manliguez with nine points, five assists and two rebounds.