Batangas Pulls Away in Fourth to Top Biñan

Batangas City Tanduay rode a strong fourth quarter to a 73-60 victory over Biñan Tatak Gel on Wednesday at One Arena in Cainta, Rizal, gaining momentum in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2026 Season.

Ino Comboy and Jhan Nermal spearheaded Batangas’ late-game surge, stifling Biñan’s rally and helping the Athletics improve to 4-2 in the 28-team, two-division tournament. Nermal’s timely three-pointer with 1:36 remaining extended the lead to 71-59, effectively sealing Biñan’s third loss in six games.

Comboy finished with 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists, while Ced Ablaza added 11 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. CJ Isit contributed nine points, three rebounds, and three assists, and Abdul Sawat chipped in eight points and four rebounds.

For Biñan, Damian Lasco led the charge with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double, along with three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Another contributor added 10 points and four boards, while Marc Pingris added six points, five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.

Biñan’s usual scorers struggled, with Kenny Roger Rocacurva, Carlo Lastimosa, and Pamboy Raymundo limited to just one, two, and three points, respectively. Batangas dominated most of the game, holding the lead for 36 minutes and 30 seconds, while Biñan led for only 1 minute and 20 seconds.

The MPBL action continues at the same venue on Thursday, featuring Basilan vs. Pasig at 4 p.m., Bacolod vs. Caloocan at 6 p.m., and Marikina vs. Abra at 8 p.m.