Tamaraws and Kuyas Claim First Wins in MPBL Action

Mindoro rode a strong third-quarter performance to pull away from Manila, 109-96, on Saturday at the Batangas City Coliseum in MPBL play.

After a sluggish first half, where the Tamaraws found themselves down 50-40 at the break, they came alive in the third quarter, thanks to the explosive play of Bam Gamalinda and Jayjay Caspe. The duo ignited a critical 12-point run, erasing the deficit and giving Mindoro a 62-58 lead that they never relinquished.

From that point, the Tamaraws maintained control, with Gamalinda—still playing at a high level at 39 years old—leading the charge. He finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists, earning Best Player of the Game honors. JC Recto also had a solid performance for Manila, putting up 21 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists, while Caspe contributed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

A timely three-pointer from Gamalinda extended Mindoro’s lead to 95-77, effectively sealing the victory. The Tamaraws were also motivated by the presence of team owner and Pola Mayor Ina Jennifer Cruz, who cheered them on.

Manila’s Mark Doligon was the standout for the losing side, scoring 30 points along with 5 assists and 4 rebounds. John Ashley Faa and Decoy Lopez each chipped in 13 points, while Alfred Sedillo and Jan Baltazar contributed 10 points apiece.

Earlier in the day, Bulacan secured a 102-96 win over Parañaque in a matchup between teams looking to rebound from a tough previous season.

The game was tied at 56-all when Bulacan erupted with a 12-2 run, capped by a Benedict Benedictos three-pointer and a step-back jumper that gave the Kuyas a cushion they would not relinquish.

Despite finishing near the bottom of the standings last season, Bulacan showed a renewed sense of balance, with six players scoring in double figures. Mico Dizon led the way with 21 points and 6 rebounds, while Airohn Acop earned Best Player honors with 14 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

Benedictos finished with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals, while Kent Montalvo posted 14 points and 13 rebounds. Jeremy Cruz added 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Marj De Leon contributed 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals.

For Parañaque, Marlon Monte led with 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Jobert Medina scored 18 points, while Ryusei Koga added 16 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Kurt Lojera finished with 14 points, and Jomar Santos had 11 points and 8 rebounds. JR Taganas also played a key role, grabbing 20 rebounds and dishing out 8 assists.

The tournament continues on Monday at One Arena in Cainta, with Zamboanga facing Meycauayan at 4 p.m., Valenzuela taking on Basilan at 6 p.m., and Sarangani battling Marikina at 8 p.m.