Quezon keeps rolling, clobbers Zamboanga

Quezon Province defeated Zamboanga SiKat with a score of 64-54 in the South Division of the Manny Pacquiao Presents Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2025 Season. The game took place at the Robert Estrella Sr. Memorial Gymnasium in Rosales, Pangasinan on Saturday, extending Quezon's winning streak to eight games and improving their record to 24-4, solidifying their lead in the division ahead of Batangas City Rum Masters (19-9).

Key performers for Quezon included Judel Fuentes, who contributed 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. He was supported by Alfrancis Tamsi with 9 points, and Diego Dario and LJ Gonzales each adding 7 points. Quezon, the reigning South champion and national finalist from the previous season, pulled away in the game with a 54-42 lead and maintained control to secure the victory.

Zamboanga SiKat's loss dropped them to a joint fourth place in the standings with a record of 17-11, tied with Gensan. They must win their final game in the elimination phase against Caloocan to gain homecourt advantage in the playoffs. Michael Are led Zamboanga with 15 points and four rebounds, while Chino Mosqueda added 9 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.

In another game, the Pangasinan Heatwaves defeated the Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers 75-67. Fueled by the hometown crowd, Pangasinan surged ahead with a strong third quarter, reaching a 46-29 lead, and secured their 19th win against 8 losses, tying them with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the North Division. Vic Manuel stood out for Pangasinan with 19 points and 11 rebounds, supported by Allyn Bulanadi with 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, among others. Rizal's record fell to 18-9 despite efforts from Michael Canete and Samboy De Leon.

Additionally, the Pasay Voyagers extended their winning streak to 10 games by defeating Imus Grumpy Joe 87-50 in the opener. This victory improved Pasay's record to 20-8, placing them fourth in the North Division, behind playoff qualifiers Abra (25-1), Nueva Ecija (26-2), and San Juan (25-3).