Pasay, Caloocan, Biñan flex muscles

Pasay, Caloocan and Biñan posted lopsided victories to boost their playoff drive in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City on Thursday.

The Voyagers battered the Mindoro Tamaraws, 108-75, in the nightcap to match the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo’s 133-76 drubbing of the Parañaque Patriots, 133-76, in the second game, and Biñan Tatak Gel’s 75-52 thumping of the Marikina Shoemasters in the opener.

All 14 players fielded by Coach Mike Saguiguit scored as Caloocan climbed to 15-7, good for sixth spot in the North Division, in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

Pasay did even better as its 15-player roster delivered for Coach Marlon Martin in pushing the Voyagers’ slate to 14-8.

Drilling in 21-of-34 three-point attempts for a spectacular 61.8 percent, the Voyagers buried the Tamaraws to a 12-10 card.

Pasay’s Jasper Salonga posted 19 points, spiked by five triples, followed by Jordan Rios with 13 points, who went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, and Jopet Soriano with 10 points and three assists.

Mindoro drew 16 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists from Brandrey Bienes and 12 points plus three rebounds from Bambam Gamalinda.

Caloocan got 28 points, six rebounds and six assists from Jhygruz Laude; 17 points, three assists and three steals from Jeff Manday; 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists from Brian Enriquez; and 14 points, six assists and three rebounds from Irven Palencia.

Parañaque, which skidded to 1-19, received 12 points from Jomar Santos and 10 from Kris Torrado.

Biñan Tatak Gel notched its fourth straight win and improved to 13-7.

Powered by Warren Bonifacio, Jaymar Gimpayan and Pamboy Raymundo, Binan built a 41-20 buffer and proceeded to share third spot with Gensan and Rizal Xentromall, trailing Quezon Province (16-4) and Zamboanga SiKat (15-6) in the chase for the eight playoff slots in the South Division.

Gimpayan notched 14 points and eight rebounds and was chosen best player over Bonifacio, who posted 14 points and three rebounds.

Other major Biñan contributors were Pamboy Raymundo. with nine points and three assists, and Renzo Subido with eight points, six assists and two rebounds.