Pasay extended its upward trip with a 75-68 victory over Binan Tatak Gel on Tuesday in Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season at the Orion Sports Complex in Bataan.
Powered by Jasper Salenga and Dexter Maiquez, the Voyagers notched their 11th straight win and finished the regular season with a 21-8 record, tying the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the North Division of the 30-team, two-division tournament.
Pampanga, however, would take the fourth spot as it beat Pasay, 86-78, in their round-robin elimination phase encounter.
In other games, reigning back-to-back champion Pampanga dumped Bulacan, 114-58, to clinch an outright playoff stint in the North Division, while Bataan dumped Valenzuela, 90-56, in the nightcap and wound up at 13-16, displacing Pasig at the ninth spot in the North Division.
Bataan and Pasig will clash in the play-in.
Salenga posted 17 points and 4 rebounds, Maiquez 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, Cyrus Tabi 9 points and 4 rebounds, and AJ Coronel and Jopet Soriano 7 points each for the Voyagers.
Binan dropped to a 17-12 slate despite Kenny Roger Rocacurva’s 20-point, 8-rebound, 6-assist effort.
If any consolation, Binan clinched the sixth spot over Zamboanga SiKat (also 17-12) in the South Division by virtue of its 60-56 squeaker in their elimination round encounter.
Jhan Nermal starred for Pampanga with 26 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals, followed by Jhaymo Eguilos and John Lloyd Clemente with 12 points each, Chris Lalata with 10 points plus 8 rebounds, and John Ashley Faa with 10 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.
