Alday Joins 2,000-Point Club as Golden Coolers Dominate Shoemasters

The Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers cruised to a 97-74 victory over the Marikina Shoemasters on Tuesday, reclaiming momentum in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2026 Season at One Arena Cainta in Rizal Province.

Alwyn Alday led the charge, helping Rizal recover from a slow start before pulling away decisively. The Golden Coolers surged to a 95-69 lead at their peak, securing their fourth win in eight games during the round-robin elimination phase of the 28-team, two-division tournament.

Alday finished with 21 points, five assists, three rebounds, and two steals, earning him a spot as the third player in MPBL history to reach the 2,000-point milestone, joining Basilan’s John Wilson and Bataan’s Yves Sazon. He was also named Best Player of the Game, outshining JP Maguliano (14 points, six rebounds), Marco Balagtas (11 points, eight rebounds), and Travis Batino (11 points).

“This milestone is a real confidence booster,” Alday said. “It’s a reward for all the hard work I’ve put in.”

Marikina fell to 4-6 despite strong performances from Jetro Escoto (13 points, six assists, two rebounds), JR Alabanza (12 points, five rebounds), Jomel Landayan (11 points, four rebounds, two steals), and Ace Tiamzon (10 points, four rebounds, three assists).

The game turned in Rizal’s favor with a decisive 13-point run that transformed a tightly contested start—Marikina led 19-18 after the first quarter—into a comfortable rout.

The MPBL action continues at One Arena Cainta on Wednesday, with Paranaque facing Iloilo at 4 p.m., Sarangani against Biñan at 6 p.m., and Imus taking on Mindoro at 8 p.m.