MPBL: Bataan rises to North playoffs as Quezon City keeps bid alive
MANILA, Philippines — Bataan turned hot in the third quarter and beat Pasig City, 83-75, to book a playoff seat in the North Division of the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Camaya Events Play Center in Mariveles, Bataan.
Trailing by as many as 11 points and still behind, 45-48, the Bataan Risers poured in 15 points while holding the Pasiguenos to just two to wrest control, 60-52, till the end.
The Risers emerged as the seventh seed and will tackle the San Juan Knights, the No. 2 qualifiers, in the best-of-three quarterfinal playoffs.
Joshua Galleno, a 6-foot-2 find from Olivarez College in Paranaque, posted 17 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals to clinch the SportsPlus best player honors over Migs Corteza, a 6-foot-4 former College of St. Benilde Blazer, who contributed 18 points and 7 rebounds.
Other Risers who delivered for Coach Myk Saguiguit were Nino Ibanez with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists; Hubert Cani, with 8 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists; and homegrown Yves Sazon, with 6 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Pasig, which surged ahead, 31-20, drew 21 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists from Joshua Galicia; 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists from Joshua Corpuz; and 14 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists from Warlo Batac.
The Risers ruled the boards, 56-48, and exploited this advantage to outscore the Pasiguenos in the paint, 50-30.
Pasig tumbled to a knockout match with Quezon City, which bested Valenzuela City, 76-71, in the first game for the eighth and last playoff slot in the North.
The Quezon City Black Bulls held the Valenzuela Darkhorse to two points in the last 5 minutes and 3 seconds and came through with eight, the last three on free throws by Ryan Costelo, to extend their campaign this year Costelo pooled 13 points, 9 assists and 2 rebounds and was named the best player over Kobe Monje, who tallied a game-high 23 points and 7 rebounds.
MJ Joson also shone for Quezon City with 11 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals, followed by Jessie Sumoda, who tallied 10 points and 8 rebounds, despite getting blocked twice by Valenzuela's Lester Reyes down the stretch.
Valenzuela cut short its stint this year despite Jay Collado's 15-point, 11-rebound, 4-assist effort, CJ Alattica's 15-point, 7-rebound and 2-assist output, and Geremy Robinson's 14 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists.
Reyes finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists for Valenzuela, which paid dearly for its dismal free-throw shooting, converting only 8 of 23 for 34.8 percent.
The tournament plays at the Calapan City Coliseum for the first time on Monday, featuring the South Division play-in games between Zamboanga and Imus at 5 p.m., and Basilan and Mindoro at 7 p.m.
The Mindoro-Basilan winner advances to the playoffs as the seventh qualifier, while the loser drops to a knockout match with the winner of the Zamboanga-Imus tussle. TMT
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