Biñan Tatak Gel leaned on Pamboy Raymundo’s clutch triples to subdue Pasig, 79-72, and continue its climb in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2025 Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.
Pasig rallied to within 59-62, early in the fourth quarter, but Raymundo drilled in three tries in four minutes to seal Biñan’s fifth straight win, 74-68, that lifted the Lagunenses record to 6-3 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Nueva Ecija paces the race for playoff spots with a 9-0 card, followed by San Juan (8-0), Pampanga (8-1), Abra (8-1) and Quezon Province (8-1).
Veteran Jeff Chan fired 16 points, highlighted by four triples, in the first quarter to push Biñan ahead, 25-15, from which Pasig couldn’t recover and suffer its fifth straight defeat after a 2-0 start.
Carlo Lastimosa added 12 points, including Biñan’s last four, followed by Raymundo’s timely nine points, seven assists and six rebounds, and Kenny Roger Rocacurva’s nine points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
Pasig drew 17 points and six rebounds from Mark Montuano, 16 points, six rebounds and six assists from Christian Rivera and 10 points plus 10 rebounds from Warlo James Batac.
The Mindoro Tamaraws also sustained their gradual recovery with a 101-79 trashing of the Davao Occidental Tigers in the second game.
Powered by Joseph Sedurifa, Wendelino Comboy and Brandrey Bienes, Mindoro led as far as 101-74 and climbed to 5-6 with four victories in its last five games.
Sedurifa chalked up 23 points and eight rebounds, Comboy 16 points plus two rebounds, and Bienes 10 points, three assists and two rebounds to the delight of Mindoro Tamaraws team owner Mayor Jennifer “Ina” Cruz, who watched the games.
Davao, which dropped to 3-3, got 16 points and five assists from Reymart Escobido, 14 points, four rebounds from homegrown Jansher Salubre, and four points, 10 rebounds and nine assists from Harold Arboleda.