The Basilan Starhorse Portmasters, drawing inspired performance from Jimboy Pasturan and Renzo Navarro, clobbered the Marikina Shoemasters, 70-51, for their seventh straight win in the MPBL 2025 Season on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Paco Arena in Manila.
With the wily Navarro masterfully quarterbacking the team’s offense and Pasturan making his shots from afar, the Portmasters sailed away, 57-35, before cruising to their 17th win in 28 games to tie the Gensan Warriors and Binan Tatak Gel in the South Division of the 30-team, two-division tournament.
Zamboanga Sikat slipped to 16-12 after a 66-74 defeat to the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo.
The Quezon Huskers (25-4), the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters (19-9) and the Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers (18-9) are assured of playoff berths in the South.
Pasturan posted 20 points, spiked by five triples, six assists and 2 steals, while Navarro tallied 14 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds for Basilan which will have also-ran Quezon City as its final assignment.
Backed by Red Dynasty, Basilan also drew significant numbers from Jervy Cruz with 9 points and 7 rebounds, and Sherwin Concepcion, Gab Dagangon and Adi Santos with 6 points each.
With Navarro adding four triples, Concecpion and Dagangon two each, and Cruz one, the Portmasters converted 15 of 31 attempts for a high 48.4 percent, as against the Shoemasters 7 of 17 for 41.2 percent.
In the nightcap, Davao Occidental blasted Manila Batang Quiapo, 124-93,to improve to 11-16, good for ninth place and a play-in stint.
