The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys piled a big lead in the fourth quarter before cruising to a 75-63 victory over the Muntinlupa Cagers in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.
The Cowboys surged ahead, 71-45, in the fourth quarter en route to their 13th win against 11 losses, good for the eighth spot in the North Division in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 30-team tournament.
Ilagan Isabela trails Pasay (16-8) and tows Bataan (9-15) in the chase for playoff berths, being led by North powerhouses Abra (22-1), Nueva Ecija (22-1) and San Juan (21-2).
JR Olegario posted 17 points, 12 in the third quarter, 4 rebounds and 2 assists to clinch best player honors over fellow Cowboys Agem Miranda, with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals; and Mark Dyke, with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 2 steals.
Buenaventura Raflores tallied 8 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Cowboys, who only had 6, as Muntinlupa cut the gap on the way to a 10-13 slate and the ninth spot in the South Division.
Raflores wound up with 12 points plus 10 rebounds, and Dom Matillano 10 points plus 5 rebounds for slumping Muntinlupa.
The MPBL visits the Marikina Sports Center on Friday, with games pitting Davao against Quezon City at 4 p.m., Rizal Province against Bacolod at 6 p.m., and Marikina against San Juan.
