Makati leaned on two charities by Billy Robles in the last six seconds to nip Imus, 84-83, on Friday, Sept. 29, in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Imus City Sports Complex in Cavite.

It was the fourth straight win for the Makati OKBet Kings, who finished the round-robin elimination round with a 21-7 record and the No. 3 spot in the North division.

Rob Celiz again shone for Makati with 29 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and four assists, the last of which paved the way for Robles' deciding free throws. Robles wound up with 17 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks.

Imus knotted the count at 79 following a free throw by Carlo Lastimosa and layups by Junjie Hallare and Bryan Faundo.

Robles and Celiz, however, came through with five points against two free throws by Jimboy Estrada and another layup by Faundo to sway the balance.

Imus fell to 15-13, good for the seventh spot in the South division heading to the playoffs starting next week.
Lastimosa posted 29 points and three rebounds and Hallare 13 and five.

Muntinlupa slammed the playoffs door on Bataan, 90-85, and opened it for Marikina in the opener.

Although assured of a playoff spot regardless of the game's outcome, Muntinlupa still persevered to rise to 16-12 by repulsing Bataan's final assault and ousting the Risers (13-14) even with one more game to go.

Marco Balagtas powered the Cagers with 25 points plus eight rebounds, followed by John Amores with 17 points, nine rebounds plus three assists. They were supported by Manuel Mosqueda with 11 points, three rebounds plus three assists and Val Acuna with 10 points.

Bataan clawed back from a 60-72 hole and threatened at 85-87 behind Dom Vera, but JP Sarao sealed the outcome with two charities in the last two seconds.

Vera wound up with 24 points, spiced by five triples, and four steals for Bataan, which got 14 points from Yves Sazon, 11 points plus seven rebounds from Arvie Bringas and 11 points, seven assists, four rebounds plus two steals from Kris Torrado.

Marikina is now beyond Bataan's reach for the eighth and last playoff berth in the North division with its 15-12 slate.

Other North qualifiers are Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Makati, San Juan, Caloocan, Pasig and Pasay.

The South playoffs roster comprises Baxoor, Batangas, GenSan, Zamboanga, Quezon Province, Muntinlupa, Imus and Iloilo.

Earlier, Oriental Mindoro routed Valenzuela, 113-93, in a battle of also-rans to to end its stint with a 6-22 card. Valenzuela bowed out with a 3-25 record.

Jan Baltazar sparkled for Mindoro with 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists and so did Paolo Hubalde with 17 points, 17 assists, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

The MPBL returns to the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City on Saturday with a twin bill pitting Pampanga against San Juan at 6 p.m. and Paranaque against Quezon at 8 p.m.