Batangas City banked on the hot hands of Levi Hernandez, Cedrick Ablaza and Kenneth Ighalo to dump Pasay, 123-82, on Saturday and returned on track in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at The Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela.
Hernandez notched a game-high 28 points, laced by three triples, and made 55 percent of his shots to go with five rebounds and two steals to clinch best player honors over Ablaza, who shot 71.4 percent from the field en route to 16 points, including two triples, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.
Ighalo contributed 12 points on four triples and six rebounds for the Batangas City Tanduay Rhum Masters, who leveled their record to 4-4 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
In other games, the GenSan Warriors fended off the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys’ repeated rallies to tally a wire-to-wire 90-83 victory while the Quezon Huskers battered Manila Batang Quiapo, 123-82, in the freewheeling opener.
The Voyagers fell to 6-3 despite Warren Bonifacio’s 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, Marc Daniel Sangco’s 16 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists, and Cyrus Tabi’s 13 points, 8 assists and four rebounds.
Laurenz Victoria had a chance to extend the game, but Laurenz Victoria missed his triple attempt before the final buzzer.
Powered by Kyle Tolentino and Rene Pacquiao, the Warriors surged ahead, 22-6, and proceeded to tie the Rhum Masters’ 4-4 mark.
Ilagan Isabela threatened at 71-74 on a drive by Arth Dela Cruz, but Nico Elorde converted two charities, Tolentino drilled in a triple and Elorde followed suit to give GenSan breathing room, 82-71, with 4 minutes and 55 seconds to go.
