Philip Manalang didn't score in the Paranaque Patriots' 111-89 thumping of the Imus Agimat VA Drones on Thursday, Sept. 19, in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.

Yet, he earned the Daily Fantasy best player honors by dishing off an MPBL all-time record of 23 assists that lifted Paranaque to its 17th win against 10 losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 29-team tournament.

The 26-year-old, 5-foot-10 guard out of San Fernando, Pampanga and the University of the East, also snagged 4 rebounds and made 3 steals in a 22-minute, 12-second stint, letting 14 other Patriots to pile up the points.

Homegrown John Antony Umali and Kristan Hernandez posted 17 each, Paolo Castro 11, and JR Olegario and Lean Vincent Martel 10 each for Paranaque, which is lodged at the fifth spot in the South Division being led by Quezon Province and Zamboanga Master Sardines, both with 20-6 slates.

Manalang, who eclipsed San Juan's Marwin Taywan's mark of 20 assists set in 2022,  said he merely followed instructions to make his teammates find their rhythm and gain confidence heading to the three-game playoffs starting on Oct. 5.

Also-ran Imus tumbled to 1-26 despite Mikko John Gimpayan's 32-point, 13 rebound effort.
The MPBL goes to the Alonte Sports Arena on Friday with games pitting Davao against Quezon City at 4 p.m., Zamboanga against San Juan at 6 p.m., and Binan against Mindoro at 8 p.m.