Pangasinan, Cebu torch MPBL rivals

Pangasinan torched Quezon City, 92-77, while Cebu stunned Gensan, 100-94, in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Season 25 at the Villar Coliseum in Las Piñas City on Saturday.

Led by new gunner Allyn Bulanadi, the Heatwaves broke free in the third quarter, 69-61, and proceeded to their fourth straight win and a 14-6 record in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

Cebu banked on the heads-up plays of Mark Meneses and Jun Manzo to foil Gensan's final assault and improve to 6-15.

Bulanadi, a former Gilas pool member from San Sebastian College, posted 16 points, 14 in the third quarter, and three rebounds in his MPBL return after playing for Basilan in the 2020 season.

Veteran Vic Manuel also shone for Pangasinan, which led as far as 89-71, with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists; followed by Jorey Napoles with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists; Michael Mabulac with 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists; and Laurenz Victoria with nine points, five rebounds and five assists.

Quezon City skidded to 6-15 as only Ryan Reyes and John Edcel Rojas, who went out with a right shoulder injury in the fourth quarter, struck back with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Manzo, a former star of University of the Philippines (UP), fired 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, issued six assists and grabbed two rebounds to complement Meneses' 23 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Cebu also drew 13 points and five rebounds from Jan Jamon and 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals from Paul Desiderio, another former UP stalwart.

Gensan got 25 points, laced by seven triples, five rebounds and two assists from Kyle Tolentino, 13 points each from Mark Cruz and Joel Lee Yu, 10 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals from Marwin Dionisio, and nine points, all in the fourth quarter, from Nico Elorde.

The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys rebounded with an 86-73 victory over the Davao Occidental Tigers in the opener.

Led by Mark Dyke, the Cowboys bunched 10 points in the homestretch that sealed their 12th win against nine losses and erased the stigma of a 79-87 defeat to the San Juan Knights on 26 July in Zamboanga City.