Huskers shoot for South Division title

Quezon Province will shoot for the title when it battles Biñan Tatak Gel in Game 4 of their SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2026 Season South Division best-of-five finals showdown on Friday at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

Game time is at 6:30 p.m. with the Huskers tipped to go hard to book their third consecutive stint in the National Finals against the winner of the North Division finals between Abra Solid North Weavers and San Juan Knights.

The Weavers are leading, 2-0, and will try to sweep the Knights in Game 3 on Saturday at the Ynares Center Montalban, Rizal Province.

After losing the series-opener, 74-83, at the Ynares Sports Arena followed by a 74-54 victory in Game 2 of at the Quezon Convention Center, the Huskers were in control as they dominated the Lagunenses, 81-67, on Wednesday to take a 2-1 lead and seize momentum in the best-of-five series.

With Judel Fuentes, Jolo Manansala, Joshua Yerro and Cyrus Tabi at the helm, Quezon surged ahead 37-22 early in the second quarter.

Biñan caught up at 54-54 through Nic Cabañero and Kenny Rocacurva, but Quezon regained control at 69-59 and never yielded the lead to move one win away from ruling the South.

Fuentes topscored for Quezon with 15, followed by Manansala with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Yerro with 13 and four rebounds.

Tabi, however, was chosen the SportsPlus Best Player with six points, seven rebounds, two steals and 18 assists that steadied the Huskers throughout.

Poor free-throw shooting haunted Biñan as it converted only 16 of 37 attempts for 43.2 percent. In contrast, the Huskers canned 15 of 18 for 83.3 percent.

Biñan also shot poorly from long distance, drilling only 5 of 27 triple tries, against Quezon's 8 of 22.

For Biñan to level the series, it must fare better from the charity stripe and beyond the arc, and prevent Quezon from dominating the shaded lane again, 53-39.

Last year's South Finals went the full route, with Quezon prevailing over Biñan, 3-2, to retain the division crown.

The Huskers, the back-to-back runners-up, will be banking on Fuentes, Yerro, Tabi, Manasala, Cholo Anonuevo, Mon Abundo, Ced Manzano, Christian Pagaran, Jason Opiso and Mike Canete in their bid to shorten the series.

Biñan drew 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals from Cabañero, who made only four of 12 charities; and 10 points and six rebounds from Michael Mabulac, who sustained an injury in the fourth quarter.