The Batangas City Tanduay Athletics struggled past the Valenzuela City Darkhorse, 91-93, in the SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2026 Season on Tuesday at the Batangas City Coliseum.

Trailing most of the way and by as many as 15 points, Batangas caught up with Valenzuela at 67, 70 and 72, only to fall back again at 72-77.

Rhinwill Yambing, however, turned hot, pumping in nine points in an 11-point bundle that shoved the Athletics ahead for good, 83-77, in the nightcap of another triple bill in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 27-team tournament.

With Batangas making only 3-of-8 charities, Valenzuela managed to threaten at 83-85, with 45 seconds left, following a three-pointer from Jay Collado.

The Darkhorse, who controlled the game for more than 32 minutes, couldn’t score after that, however, and the Athletics sealed their 11th straight win and 13-2 record with two free throws each from Ino Comboy and Yambing, and one from Ced Ablaza.

Batangas City trails only Gensan (14-2) in the race for playoff spots in the South division.

Piling 18 points, five rebounds, two steals, two assists and two blocks, Yambing was chosen the SportsPlus Best Player, edging Jhan Nermal, with 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Comboy, with 17 points plus five assists.

“Credit to my teammates and the coaching staff for giving me the confidence to shoot,” the 6-foot-3 Yambing said.

Valenzuela fell to 8-9 despite Collado’s 20 points, six rebounds and three assists, CJ Alattica’s 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and Angelo Obuyes’ 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.