Streaking Quezon bunched 8 points to break free then got a dagger 3 to nip Batangas, 91-89, on Saturday and gain the solo lead in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
Other games saw Mindoro stun Pasay, 96-88, and Quezon City edge Iloilo, 74-71.
Down by two, the Quezon Huskers drew back-to-back triples from Xyrus Torres followed by a Gab Banal drive to seize control, 85-79, with 1 minute and 28 seconds to go in the extension.
Although the Batangas Tanduay Rum Masters threatened at 82-85, local icon Topeng Lagrama drilled in a triple with 26.1 seconds left to virtually seal the Huskers’ eighth straight win that pushed them ahead of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards and the San Juan Knights, both with 7-0 cards.
Batangas dropped to 7-2.
It was a similar situation in regulation, when Quezon unloaded 9 points to break free, 71-65, with only 25.2 seconds to go.
The never-say-die Rum Masters, however, responded with a 5-point cluster, and after Quezon’s LJ Gonzales canned two charities, MJ Dela Virgen again bailed out Batangas with a triple to forge overtime at 73-73, only 5.1 ticks left.
Banal, a former league MVP, posted 20 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals, followed by Gonzales with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.
Ximone Sandagon chalked 14 points and 5 rebounds, while NCAA Season 98 MVP Will Gozum added 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists for the Huskers.
Batangas got 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists from Cedric Ablaza and 18 points, including 8 in overtime, 8 rebounds and 3 assists from Jong Baloria.
