The Pangasinan Heatwaves leaned on Hesed Gabo and Pedrito Galanza to beat the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys, 98-91, on Thursday and advance to the playoffs in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Robert Estrella Sr. Memorial Gymnasium in Rosales, Pangasinan.
Gabo pumped in eight points, spiked by two triples, while Galanza added five in the extra period as the Heatwaves repeated their 96-94 victory over the Cowboys in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team, two-division tournament.
More importantly, the Heatwaves clinched the seventh playoff slot in the North Division, putting them on a collision course with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, the No. 2 qualifier, in the best-of-three playoffs.
Gabo wound up with 14 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds, atoning for his missed short jumper in the last two seconds, keeping the count tied at 82-82.
Galanza posted a game-high 23 points plus 4 rebounds.
Jorey Napoles also shone for Pangasinan with 17 points plus 9 rebounds, and so did Allyn Bulanadi with 15 points, 4 assists and 3 steals.
The Cowboys, who led at 66-58, got 21 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals from Arth Dela Cruz, 14 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists from Agem Miranda, 11 points, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 rebounds from Donald Gumaru, and 10 points from Mark Dyke.
The loss sent the Cowboys into a do-or-die showdown with the Bataan Risers, who ousted Pasig City, 99-78, in the opener.
With Yves Sazon finding his range and four others joining the scoring fray, the Risers led by as far as 94-67 in avenging their 85-88 defeat to the Pasiguenos in the round-robin elimination phase on May 14.
MPBL: Pangasinan gains playoff, beats Ilagan-Isabela
