The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys struck from long range and mowed down the Bulacan Kuyas, 109-82, on Wednesday, March 19, in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.
Led by JR Olegario, who hit five triples en route to a game-high 22 points, the Cowboys drilled in 13 of 27 tries from beyond the arc to take the fight out of the Kuyas and tally their second win in three starts in the round-robin elimination round of the 30-team tournament.
With Olegario piling 16 points, the Cowboys pulled away at the half, 59-31, and led by as far as 67-34 on a jumper by Allen Mina with 7 minutes and 6 seconds to go in the third quarter.
Olegario, a 5-foot-7 find from Paranaque, also tallied 4 assists and 2 steals to clinch best player honors over Arth Dela Cruz, who posted 16 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals, and Mina, who tallied 16 points.
Other Cowboys who delivered for Coach Louie Gonzalez were Joshua Ramirez, who chalked 8 points, spiked by two triples, and Ryan Jay Arenal with 7 points and 6 rebounds.
Bulacan tumbled to 0-3 despite John Rey Sumido’s 21 points and RR De Leon’s 18 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. The Kuyas also got 14 points and 7 assists from Marlon John Espiritu and 11 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists from Art Aquino.
The MPBL goes to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex for the first time on Thursday, with games pitting Cebu against Bataan at 4 p.m., Basilan against Valenzuela at 6 p.m., and Manila against Nueva Ecija at 8 p.m.
