Mindoro, Basilan post contrasting triumphs

Mindoro and Basilan won in contrasting fashion to boost their drive in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season on Monday at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga.

The Tamaraws nipped the Bataan Risers, 86-84, in the nightcap while the Seahorse dumped Manila Batang Quiapo, 117-84, in the second game of another triple-bill in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

Ino Comboy powered the Tamaraws to a 12-9 slate with 28 points, including eight triples, three steals and two assists to clinch the Best Player honors over Axel Inigo with 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Joseph Sedurifa with 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Bataan dropped to 7-13 despite Alfred Flores’ 18-point, six-rebound, six-assist, two-steal effort, Chris Javier’s 17-point, six-rebound output, and Hubert Cani’s 14-point, four-rebound, three-assist, two-steal contribution.

Basilan was imposing in climbing to an even 9-9 card, leading as far as 101-53.

Emman Calo paced Basilan with a triple-double 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to go with two steals, followed by Michael Alvarez with 20 points, five rebounds and two assists, and Gab Dagangon with 16 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.

Jayson Grimaldo also shone for Basilan with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Jimboy Pasturan chipped in 10 points, two rebounds and two assists.

Manila, which fell to 2-17, got 29 points and three rebounds from Alfred Sedillo, 21 points from Stephen Torralba, 12 points from Decoy Lopez and 11 points from Alex Himan.

In the opener, the Bulacan Kuyas stunned Caloocan Batang Kankaloo, 85-83, and improved to 3-17.