Batang Kankaloo make show of force
Pacesetter Caloocan Batang Kankaloo flaunted its deep bench in a 127-91 thumping of Parañaque in the SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2026 Season on Monday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
All 15 Batang Kankaloo, headed by Rommel Calahat, scored three points or more as Caloocan led by as far as 116 and climbed to 14-1 in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 27-team tournament.
Calahat posted 16 points and four rebounds to clinch the SportsPlus Best Player honors over Kean Baclaan, with 15 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Other major contributors for Caloocan, which tows Abra (12-1) and San Juan (10-1) in the North division, were Eric Camson with 13 points and five rebounds, and homegrown Joseph Manlangit, with 10 points and five rebounds.
Parañaque, which skidded to 1-16, drew 24 points, eight rebounds and three assists from Jomar Santos, 13 points, four rebounds and four assists from Marlon Monte, 12 points and three assists from Jobert Medina, 11 points, four assists and two rebounds from James Mangahas, and 10 points plus eight rebounds from John Michael Cruz.
Meanwhile, the Cebu Greats repelled the Quezon City Black Bulls’ repeated rallies to prevail, 74-61, in the nightcap and climb to 12-3, overtaking Binan Tatak Gel, 11-3, for the third spot in the South division being lorded by Gensan (13-2) and Batangas (11-2).
Mark Meneses again paced Cebu with 15 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists, followed by Alvin Baetiong, with 10 points and 8 rebounds, and Kint Ariar, with 10 points and three rebounds.
Trailing, 56-66, following a triple by Cebu’s CJ Payawal, Quezon City moved to within 61-68 when Joshua Roque converted two charities with 3:26 left.
The Black Bulls couldn’t score after that, however, while the Greats came through with six charities for the final count that pulled Quezon City down to a 6-8 slate.
Quezon City tumbled to 6-8 despite Val Chauca’s 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists, Jake Agoncillo’s 13 points and six rebounds, and Kobe Monje’s 12 points and five rebounds.
