The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys hit their target in the fourth quarter and routed the Sarangani Grippers, 74-54, in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season on Saturday at their homecourt–The Capital Arena.
Led by Arth Dela Cruz and JR Olegario, the Cowboys outscored the Grippers, 27-15, in the payoff period to win their first Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League game pulling away.
With the outcome beyond doubt, 71-50, following a Dela Cruz bucket, majority of the 10,000 capacity crowd headed to the exits happy and proud as it was past 11:20 p.m.
Abra Solid North weathered Binan Tatak Gel’s final rally to prevail, 69-60, in the opener.
Dela Cruz, former gunner of the Davao Occidental Tigers, fired 16 points on top of 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steaks and 1 block to clinch best player honors.
Olegario, formerly of the Paranaque Patriots, tallied 13 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals for Cowboys Coach Louie Gonzalez.
Other Cowboys who delivered were Joshua Guiab, former star of Jose Rizal University, with 12 points plus 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal; Joshua Gallano, another former Patriot, with 11 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block; and Gab Gomez, formerly of Ateneo, with 10 points and 2 assists.
Sarangani drew 14 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists from Kyt Jimenez, 10 points and 4 rebounds from Larce Sunga and 6 points each from Coy Alves and Junjie Hallare.
The Cowboys broke free, 33-12, before the Grippers persevered to close the gap, 35-22, at the break..
The Abra Weavers saw their 17-point spread, 62-45, cut to just six, 63-57, by Binan as KG Canaleta and Michael Maestre waxed hot.
Dave Ildefonso and Marwin Taywan, however, scored back-to-back baskets to foil Binan’s comeback with 1 minute and 1 second left.
Encho Serrano, recruited from Pampanga, notched 14 points for Abra, but Ildefonso, a former Ateneo Blue Eagle, clinched best player honors with 13 plus 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
Taywan, formerly of San Juan, supported them with 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, and so did former De La Salle Green Archer Raven Gonzales with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists.
MPBL Founder and Chairman Manny Pacquiao, who motored to this city after his flight got cancelled, graced the event with Ilagan Mayor Jay Diaz, Isabela Gov. Rodito Albano and Ilagan Isabela Cowboys team owner Avelino Diaz.
Also present were MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes, chief legal counsel Glenn Gacal, Operations Head Emmer Oreta and Security Chief Rudy Distrito.
The MPBL goes to Rosales, Pangasinan on Monday, March 10, with games pitting Mindoro against Imus at 4 p.m., Pasay against Nueva Ecija at 6 p.m., and Pangasinan against Bataan at 8 p.m.
