Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters 91 – 83 Valenzuela Classic

The Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters held off a determined Valenzuela Classic squad to earn a 91-83 victory in the Philippines MPBL on July 7, 2026. Playing in front of an energetic home crowd, Batangas used a balanced scoring attack and timely defensive stops in the fourth quarter to improve their standing in the league’s Southern Division.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, Batangas City controlled the tempo, pushing the ball in transition and finding open looks from beyond the arc. Valenzuela, however, stayed within striking distance throughout the first half, trailing by just six at the break (48-42). The third quarter saw the Classic mount a rally, briefly taking the lead on a 10-0 run, but Batangas answered with a 16-4 spurt to reclaim control.

Key Moments

• First Quarter Fireworks: Batangas came out shooting 58% from the field, building an early 28-20 lead. Guard Mark Villanueva knocked down two early three-pointers to set the tone.
• Valenzuela’s Third-Quarter Push: The Classic’s big man Jasper Cruz dominated the paint with 8 points in the third, helping his team erase the deficit and go up 65-63 with 3 minutes left in the period.
• Clutch Fourth Quarter: Batangas tightened its defense, holding Valenzuela to just 14 points in the final frame. Forward Rico Santos scored 10 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth, including a key and-one play that put the Rum Masters up by seven with two minutes remaining.

Standout Performers

Rico Santos was the star for Batangas City, finishing with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Guard Mark Villanueva added 18 points and 5 assists, while center Jake Mercado contributed a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. For Valenzuela, Jasper Cruz recorded 22 points and 9 rebounds, and guard Renz Bautista scored 16 points off the bench.

Game Impact

The win moves Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters closer to a top-four seed in the MPBL Southern Division, strengthening their playoff positioning. Valenzuela, despite the loss, showed they can compete with the division’s elite and will look to bounce back in their next outing against the Bicol Volcanic.

Next up: Batangas City faces the Negros Muscovados, while Valenzuela returns home to host the Manila Stars.