The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys held the fort under pressure and thwarted the Bataan Risers, 74-71, to clinch the eighth and last playoff slot in the North Division of the Manny Pacquiao Presents Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2025 Season at The Capital Arena in Ilagan City, Isabela late Wednesday.

With their top gunner, Arth dela Cruz out after a right ankle injury in the third quarter, the Cowboys called on homegrown Donald Gumaru, Agem Miranda and Jerie Pingoy, to defuse the Risers’ final rally and forge a best-of-three showdown with North’s top qualifier Abra Solid North Weavers, in the playoff round starting on Friday.

Miranda canned his two free throws while Pingoy went three of four in the dying seconds to frustrate the Risers, who climbed from a deep pit to send the play-in into a thriller.

Gumaru posted 19 points, spiked by four triples, three rebounds and three assists to fill up the void left by Dela Cruz, who chalked up 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals, before he was taken out after a disqualifying foul by Bataan’s Rhaffy Octobre.