Batangas City sustained its recovery with a 92-65 crushing of Valenzuela City in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Again showing the form that gave them a 131-65 drubbing of the Cebu Classic after back-to-back losses, the Rum Masters ruled the boards, 53-35, and led as far as 87-44 in posting their ninth win against seven losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Levi Hernandez led Batangas’ assault with 17 points and five rebounds, followed by John Ambulodto with 13 points and five rebounds, Ced Ablaza with 10 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Mark Niel Cruz with 10 points plus three rebounds.
Their dominance underneath gave the Rum Masters a decisive 50 points in the paint against only 18 for the Magic, who skidded to 4-13.
Valenzuela, which was also hounded by a dismal 4 of 31 performance from the four-point zone, drew 16 points, four rebounds and two steals from Kobe Monje, and 12 points plus nine rebounds from JR Alabanza.
In the second game, the Mindoro Tamaraws subdued the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys, 86-77.
Bannered by RJ Ramirez and four others, the Tamaraws surged ahead, 47-31, at halftime and thwarted the Cowboys’ repeated rallies to rise to 9-8.
Ramirez posted 14 points and six rebounds to clinch Best Player honors over Bambam Gamalinda with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists, Axel Inigo with 12 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals, Wendell Comboy with 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists, and Ethan Galang with 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Comboy also drilled in a triple with 1:48 left to seal the outcome, 82-69, and pull down the Cowboys to 7-8.