Quezon Province leaned on a fourth-quarter outburst to down San Juan, 72-69, on Monday and clinch a playoff spot in the 2026 MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Preseason Invitational at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Cyrus Tabi poured in seven points in a pivotal 10-1 run that helped the Quezon Huskers repel the San Juan Knights’ final assault and raise their record to 6-1 in Group B of the 18-team event preceding the MPBL Eighth Season.
The Knights closed in at 67-69, following five straight points by Patrick Sleat and a triple by Harold Alarcon, and threatened at 69-70 following two charities by Mike Calisaan against a split by Quezon’s Judel Fuentes.
San Juan, however, muffed two scoring opportunities and fell into a tie with its tormentor.
Tabi finished with 11 points, eight in the last 5 minutes and 33 seconds, 5 rebounds and 3 assists to clinch best player honors over Christian Pagaran, with 13 points and 5 rebounds, and Will McAloney with 10 points and 6 rebounds.
The Knights, who bunched 10 points to surge ahead, 54-44, got 15 points and 6 rebounds from Harold Alarcon and 13 points plus 8 rebounds from Calisaan.
Caloocan trounced the Junior MPBL D-League Selection, 80-63, in the second game to wind up with a 6-2 record and head to the playoffs.
Eric Camson led Caloocan with 18 points and 5 rebounds, followed by Jeramer Cabanag with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals, Jielo Razon with 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, and Paul Casin with 10 points.
The D-League youngsters suffered their seventh straight defeat despite Yhano Lacsarum’s 18 points and Vhon Roldan’s 16.
The Pasay Voyagers rode on Christian Fajarito and Cyril Gonzales to thwart the Marikina Shoemasters, 75-69, in the opener and keep their playoff hopes.
Fajarito posted 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Gonzales 15 points and 2 steals to lift Pasay to a 4-2 card and pull down Marikina to 1-7.
The Shoemasters drew 21 points and 3 rebounds from Deo Timajo, and 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists from Jonathan Medina.
To advance, Pasay must win its last two games over San Juan and Zamboanga, respectively.
The Preseason returns to the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna, on Tuesday, featuring games between Bacolod and Mindoro at 3 p.m., Bataan and Binan at 5 p.m., and Gensan and Quezon City at 7 p.m.
