The Quezon Huskers weathered the Paranaque Patriots’ final assault to prevail, 81-75, on Thursday and share the lead in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round at the Olivarez College Gym in Paranaque City.
After the Patriots tied the count at 74, the Huskers clustered six points, highlighted by a dagger three by LJ Gonzales, to tally their sixth straight victory in as many starts that pushed them at the helm with the San Juan Knights.
It was Topeng Lagrama, a 5-foot-4 homegrown icon, however, who emerged best player after a 16-point, 4-rebound, 4-assist, 3-steal effort for Quezon Coach Eric Gonzales.
Other Huskers who delivered were RJ Minerva with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks and Jason Opiso with 10 points and 4 rebounds.
Gonzales, a former Far Eastern University Tamaraws standout, finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, followed by former MPBL MVP Gab Banal with 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Patriots dropped to 6-2 despite the 19-point, 5-rebound, 6-assist output of Jielo Razon, the 15-point, 3-rebound, 4-assist contribution of Philip Manalang, the 14-point, 8-rebound line of Joshua Gallano and the 11-point, 10-rebound effort of John Uduba.
Zamboanga Master Sardines and Caloocan also trounced their opponents in earlier games.
Leading throughout, Zamboanga thwarted Bacolod City of Smiles, 77-62, to climb to 7-1, while Caloocan drubbed Marikina, 64-38, to rise to 4-1.
Flashing the form that made him the 2022 MPBL MVP, Jaycee Marcelino wound up with 23 points and 4 rebounds for Zamboanga despite sustaining a nose injury in the third quarter.
Rey Joey Barcuma contributed 12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, followed by Adrian Santos with 10 points and 7 rebounds. Kenneth Alas, son of Zamboanga Coach Louie Alas, added 6 points, a game-high 14 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Bacolod, which trailed at 43-61 and tumbled to 1-7, got 12 points from homegrown John Lemuel Pastias and 10 from Jacob Galicia.
The Batang Kankaloo pulled away, 52-31, after three quarters and were never threatened by the Shoemasters, who also fell to 1-7.
Paul Hendrix Casin led Caloocan with 13 points, followed by Jeramer Cabanag with 9 points and 10 other Batang Kankaloo who scored.
