San Juan and Biñan won in runaway fashion while Mindoro scrambled past Marikina in the SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2026 Season on Monday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The San Juan Knights dumped the Manila Batang Quiapo, 124-75, in the nightcap, improving on Biñan Tatak Gel’s 110-86 conquest of the Paranaque Patriots in the opener.

Powered by Patrick Sleat and Harold Alarcon, the Knights led as far as 82-39 in cruising to their 16th win against two losses that put them closer to the Abra Solid North Weavers (18-1) and the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo (17-2) in the North division race for playoff spots.

Sleat, former star of the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, finished with 21 points, highlighted by a two-handed slam, four rebounds and two assists to clinch the SportsPlus Best Player honors over Alarcon, a former University of the Philippines stalwart who missed a triple-double with 10 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists.

Michael Calisaan supported with 14 points and eight rebounds, Nikko Panganiban with 12 points and five rebounds, and Dexter Maiquez with 10 points, six assists and four rebounds.

Meanwhile, Mindoro crawled out of a deep hole in the fourth quarter to nip Marikina, 71-69, in the second game and boost its playoff drive in the South division, where Biñan holds a 17-4 record.

The Mindoro Tamaraws rose to 11-9, virtually assured of a play-in slot involving the seventh to 10th-ranked teams after the eliminations.

Trailing as far as 47-62 and still behind at 52-65, Mindoro bunched 12 points to threaten at 64-65.

Marikina responded with four free throws to pad the lead, 69-64, with 28.3 seconds left.

Mindoro’s Jayjay Caspe, however, sprang a triple and stole off Marikina’s RR Casajeros in the next play, forcing Casajeros to commit an unsportsmanlike foul that sent Mindoro’s Derick Acosta to the free throw line. Acosta settled for a split, after which Bambam Gamalinda drilled a triple to push Mindoro in front, 71-69, with 10.7 seconds left.

It turned out to be the final count, as Casajeros missed two charities with 4.8 ticks to go.

Mindoro drew 15 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and three assists from JC Recto, 14 points and five rebounds from Caspe, and 11 points, eight rebounds and two assists from Marion Magat.

The Tamaraws prevailed despite making only 16 of 38 free throw attempts, with Recto missing all of his seven tries, for 42.1 percent

Marikina, which slid to 6-15, got 14 points from Jeepy Faundo, 13 from Jethro Escoto, and 12 from Jomel Landayan.