Quezon City Galeries Taipan and Rizal Xentromall trounced their rivals on Tuesday, March 11, to join the early pacesetters in the  Manny Pacquiao presents MPBL 2025 Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Powered by Nino Ibanez, Quezon City ripped Bulacan, 100-80, while Rizal shocked returning Basilan Viva, 76-62, in the nightcap of a triple-bill.
Rizal, bolstered by recruits Michael Canete and Eric Camson, stormed to its biggest spread, 63-32, before Basilan persevered to cut the lead at the final buzzer.
Canete notched game-highs 19 points and 15 rebounds to earn best player honors over Camson, who posted 15 and 9, respectively, and Marco Balagtas, who chalked 10 points and 10 rebounds as the smaller Golden Coolers ruled the boards, 53-42.
Other Golden Coolers who delivered were Robin Julian Nayve with 8 points, 3 assists and 2 assists, Jerie Pingoy with 7 points, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds, and Keanu Caballero with 5 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
Staring at a 43-70 deficit early in the fourth quarter, the Portmasters put up their last stand through veterans Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot, John Mahari and Reymar Caduyac and came to within 62-72 heading to the final minute.
Santos wound up with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 1 steal, followed by Mahari with 13 points and 4 rebounds.
The Portmasters also got 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists from Jervy Cruz, and 7 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds from Cabagnot.
Another Basilan veteran, Jeff Viernes, ended up scoreless but had a team-high 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.
With Ibanez sinking 10 of 13 field goal attempts, including 2 of 3 triples, Quezon City cruised to a 100-75 spread before Bulacan’s Khen Osicos pegged the final tally.
With Ibanez sinking 10 of 13 field goal attempts, including 2 of 3 triples, Quezon City cruised to a 100-75 spread before Bulacan’s Khen Osicos pegged the final tally.
Ibanez scored 23 points on top of 3 steals and 2 rebounds to earn best player honors. Jayson Punay supported him with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals, and so did Franz Diaz and John Jordan Sta. Ana with 9 points each.
Bulacan drew 21 points from John Rey Sumido, 19 from RR De Leon and 15 from Haley Ajero.
Manila Batang Quiapo rallied to beat Marikina, 93-89, in the opener.
Behind by as far as 26-44 late in the second quarter, Batang Quiapo seized control midway of the final period, 84-70, but needed to fend off the Shoemasters in the homestretch to join early winners Abra, Ilagan, Imus, Nueva
Ecija and Pangasinan on top of the 30-team tournament.
Achie Inigo led Manila with 18 points, 4 assists and 1 steal, but the best player honors went to homegrown John Ashley Faa, who posted 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals for Coach Gabby Severino.
Other Batang Quiapo who shone were Richard Albo with 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block, Jan Baltzazar with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals, Algin Andaya with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists, and Yvan Ludovice with 7 points, a game-high 11 rebounds and 3 steals.
Marikina got 22 points and 5 rebounds from Nem Dela Cruz, 11 points, 6 rebounds from Junel Bauzon, 10 points from Jonel Landayan, and 9 points plus 5 rebounds from Marlon Basco.
Dominating the boards, 55-41, the Batang Quiapo produced 32 fastbreak points against only 17 for the Shoemasters.
MPBL Founder and Chairman Manny Pacquiao watched the games.
The MPBL visits the Batangas City Coliseum on Wednesday with a triple-bill pitting Valenzuela against Zamboanga at 4 p.m., Sarangani against General Santos City at 6 p.m., and Batangas City Tanduay against Quezon Province at 8 p.m.
