THE Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers sustained their recovery with a wire-to-wire 91-80 victory over the Cebu Classic on Tuesday in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Powered by Michael Canete and Alwyn Alday, Rizal pulled away, 79-58, and proceeded to tally its second straight win and climb to 6-3 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Michael Canete posted 25 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists, while Alday chalked up 22 points and 7 rebounds as the Golden Coolers revved up their drive for a back-to-back playoffs appearance.
Marco Balagtas contributed 10 points and 5 rebounds, Eric Camson 6 points and 9 rebounds, helping the Golden Coolers rule the boards, 51-38.
Cebu, which absorbed its third straight defeat for a 3-7 slate, got 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists from Paolo Hubalde and 18 points, 2 rebounds from Gyann Mendoza.
Imus Braderhood rebounded with a 78-60 drubbing of Valenzuela City Magic in the nightcap.
Kint Ariar had 16 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks, Mark Anthony Doligon 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, and Jayjay Caspe 11 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for Imus, which halted a 3-game slide and climbed to 5-5.
Valenzuela fell to 3-7 as only JR Alabanza, with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and JR Ongetco with 10 points and 5 rebounds struck back.
The Bacolod Slashers caught the Paranaque Patriots off guard in the homestretch and prevailed, 82-65, in the opener.
Ira Spencer Bataller bunched seven points to spark Bacolod’s 14-point spurt against a triple by Paranaque’s Jayboy Solis in the last 4 minutes and 44 seconds that swayed the balance for the Tubo Slashers, who improved to 2-5.
Jaycee Sam Adjei powered Bacolod with 21 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, followed by homegrown Mark Ray Dubouzet with 14 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals.
Paranaque, which slid to 1-5, drew 13 points from homegrown icon Paolo Castro, 11 from Ed Daquiaog, 10 points plus 9 rebounds from Lander Canon and 10 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds from John Paul Calvo.
The MPBL returns to the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan on Wednesday with games pitting Bataan against Marikina at 4 p.m., Davao against Mindoro at 6 p.m., and Binan against Pasig at 8 p.m.
