Golden Coolers Defeat Knights in OT, End Losing Streak

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Rizal XentroMall pulled off a thrilling 94-89 overtime victory against San Juan on Monday at the One Arena in Cainta, Rizal, snapping a two-game losing streak and handing the Knights their first loss of the season.

Billy Robles, known as the “Ilonggo Superman,” along with veteran Mark Yee, delivered stellar performances as the Golden Coolers rallied from behind. Down 72-79 with 6:39 left in regulation, Rizal surged with an 11-4 run, forcing overtime thanks to Robles’ six-point contribution, capped by a game-tying drive from Patrick Sleat at 83-all.

In overtime, Robles opened with a three-pointer, but Mike Phillips quickly answered with six consecutive points to give San Juan an 89-88 lead. The Knights, however, went cold from there, with Yee hitting a clutch jumper and sinking two free throws to give Rizal a 92-89 advantage with 8.9 seconds remaining.

After a San Juan timeout, James Kwekuteye missed a game-tying three, and Joel Lee Yu sealed the win for Rizal with a fastbreak layup.

Robles finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two assists, reflecting on the team’s resilience: "We helped each other. We never gave up." This came after Rizal erased a 47-62 deficit in the third quarter.

Yu contributed 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while Marco Balagtas added 14 points and five boards. Jake Gaspay posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, JP Sarao chipped in 10 points, and Yee scored 10 points with three rebounds.

For San Juan, Phillips led with 15 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks, but his missed free throws—one in regulation and two in overtime—proved costly. Terrence Fortea contributed 14 points and two assists, while Harold Alarcon added 13 points, three assists, and two rebounds.

In the second game, Imus made an impressive comeback to defeat Iloilo, 71-63. Eroll Soriano sparked the Imus rally, scoring 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter. Imus erased a 20-point deficit, trailing 26-46 at one point. Ralph Robin contributed 17 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Jordan Rios added nine points.

Iloilo fell to 0-2 despite a monster performance from Levi Hernandez, who recorded 37 points, 16 rebounds, and two assists.

The tournament continues on Tuesday at the Caloocan Sports Complex, with Quezon Province facing Biñan at 4 p.m., Abra Solid North meeting Parañaque at 5 p.m., and Caloocan taking on Mindoro at 8 p.m.