Kuyas outlast Pasigueños in overtime to keep play-in hopes alive

Bulacan kept its postseason aspirations alive after defeating Pasig City, 110-105, in overtime on Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

The Kuyas broke open the extra period with an 8-0 run after Pasig briefly took a 97-96 lead. Marj De Leon started the surge with a free throw before Joshua Moralejo sank four consecutive foul shots. Benedict Benedictos then buried a three-pointer to extend Bulacan's lead to 104-97 with 1:10 remaining.

The victory improved Bulacan to 5-15, keeping the Kuyas in 11th place in the MPBL North Division standings. Teams ranked seventh through 10th will compete in the play-in tournament for the final two playoff spots.

Jeremy Cruz anchored Bulacan with 18 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists, and three blocks.

"We really wanted to win," Cruz said. "It's our culture. The team management wants us to fight with everything we've got every game."

Mico Dizon led the Kuyas in scoring with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Jonathan Medina added 17 points, four rebounds, and two assists. De Leon contributed 14 points and six rebounds, and Moralejo recorded a double-double of 11 points and 10 assists to go along with four rebounds.

Pasig forced overtime after John Felix Corpuz knocked down the game-tying basket with 53.2 seconds left in regulation. Bulacan failed to convert on its final two possessions, sending the game into the extra period.

The defeat was Pasig's fourth straight and dropped the Pasigueños to 8-10.

Jacob Galicia paced Pasig with 36 points, 18 rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Jerome Garcia added 22 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Warlo Batac nearly posted a triple-double with 13 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists. Jhapz Bautista chipped in 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists.

The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) resumes on Saturday at The Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela, with Rizal XentroMall taking on Pasay at 5 p.m. before Meycauayan Marilao faces Ilagan Isabela at 7 p.m.