Caloocan silenced Binan Tatak Gel in the homestretch and prevailed, 74-71, on Monday to gain the fourth spot in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
Trailing most of the way, Binan regained the lead, 71-69, on a layup by Warren Bonifacio with 1 minute and 58 seconds left.
The Batang Kankaloo kept their poise, however, and struck back through a triple by Rommel Calahat and two free throws by Chris Bitoon to notch their 17th win against 7 losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team, two-division tournament.
Caloocan trails powerhouses Abra Solid North (22-1), Nueva Ecija (21-1) and San Juan (21-2) in the chase for eight playoff berths in the North Division.
Jeff Manday led Caloocan with 14 points and 4 rebounds, followed by Ronnie Matias with 11 points and Chris Bitoon with 9 points and 4 assists.
Binan suffered its third straight defeat and fell to 13-10, good for joint sixth with Mindoro in the South Division, being paced by Quezon Province (18-4), Zamboanga SiKat (16-7), Batangas (15-8), Rizal (14-8) and Gensan (14-9).
In other games, Pangasinan subdued Pasig, 82-72, while Valenzuela City beat Paranaque in a shootout, 113-105, in the opener.
The Pangasinan Heatwaves led as far as 59-40, allowed the Pasiguenos to come within 75-70, before cruising home.
Ian Melencio shone for Pangasinan with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals, followed by Jorey Napoles and Pedrito Galanza with 13 points each.
Adven Diputado led Valenzuela with 19 points, followed by Kobe Monje with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists; Carl Bryan Lacap with 15 on 5 triples, Jan Formento with 15 plus 5 assists, Arvie Bringas and Jonathan Gesalem with 11 points each, and JR Alabanza with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks.
MPBL: Caloocan repulses Binan while Pangasinan thwarts Pasig
