MPBL: San Juan, Binan, Mindoro book wins

MANILA, Philippines, August 11 ------ San Juan and Binan won in runaway fashion, while Mindoro scrambled past Marikina in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The San Juan Knights dumped the Manila Batang Quiapo, 124-75, in the nightcap, improving on Binan Tatak Gel's 110-86 conquest of the Paranaque Patriots in the opener. Powered by Patrick Sleat and Harold Alarcon, the Knights led as far as 82-39 in cruising to their 16th win against two losses that put them closer to the Abra Solid North Weavers (18-1) and the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo (17-2) in the race for playoff spots in the North Division.

Ex-Perpetual Help star Sleat finished with 21 points — highlighted by a two-handed slam — four rebounds and two assists to clinch Best Player honors over Alarcon, a former UP Fighting Maroons stalwart, who missed a triple-double with 10 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. Michael Calisaan supported with 14 points and eight rebounds; Nikko Panganiban with 12 points and five rebounds; and Dexter Maiquez with 10 points, six assists and four rebounds.

Mindoro scrambles past Marikina

Mindoro crawled out of a deep hole in the fourth quarter to nip Marikina, 71-69, in the second game and boost its playoff drive in the South Division, where Binan holds a 17-4 record. The Mindoro Tamaraws rose to 11-9, virtually assured of a play-in slot involving the seventh- to 10th-ranked teams after the eliminations.

Trailing as far as 47-62 and still behind at 52-65, Mindoro bunched 12 points to threaten at 64-65. Marikina responded with four free throws to pad the lead, 69-64, with 28.3 seconds left. Mindoro's Jayjay Caspe, however, sprang a triple and stole off Marikina's RR Casajeros in the next play, forcing Casajeros to commit an unsportsmanlike foul that sent Mindoro's Drick Acosta to the free throw line. Acosta settled for a split, after which Bambam Gamalinda drilled a triple to push Mindoro in front, 71-69, with 10.7 seconds left.

It turned out to be the final count, as Casajeros missed two charities with 4.8 ticks to go. Mindoro drew 15 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and three assists from JC Recto; 14 points and five rebounds from Caspe; and 11 points, eight rebounds and two assists from Marion Magat.

The Tamaraws prevailed despite making only 16 of 38 free throw attempts, with Recto missing all of his seven tries, for 42.1%. Marikina, which slid to 6-15, got 14 points from Jeepy Faundo, 13 from Jethro Escoto, and 12 from Jomel Landayan.

Binan trounces Paranaque

Up by three points after the first quarter, Binan took the half by six, the third quarter by 17, and as far as 110-84 en route to a 17-4 card and the third position in the South division. Binan, which recovered from a 53-63 beating it absorbed from Abra Solid North on August 1, trails Quezon Province (15-3) and Batangas City (15-3), and is ahead of Gensan (13-4) in the chase for playoff spots.

Nic Cabanero again shone for Binan with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists, followed by Michael Mabulac with 12 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Other major contributors for Binan were Ryan Sual with 12 points — hitting four of five triple attempts — two rebounds and two assists; Jaymar Gimpayan, with 10 points and four rebounds; and Damian Lasco with 10 points plus two rebounds.

Paranaque skidded to 2-22 despite Marlon Monte's 15 points and six rebounds; Dom Matillano's 13 points and four rebounds; Paolo Castro's 13 points; Jomar Santos' 12 points and four rebounds; and Dan Sara's 11 points plus four assists. The tournament returns to the Caloocan Sports Complex on Tuesday, featuring games between Bataan and Sarangani at 3 p.m.; Zamboanga and Valenzuela at 5 p.m.; and Caloocan and GenSan at 7 p.m.

Source: philstar.com