Mark "The AntMan" Cruz stung the meanest as South Cotabato rallied to beat Biñan Tatak Gel, 85-82, on Thursday, Oct. 11, in Game 1 of their South Division quarterfinal playoff in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.

The 5-foot-6 Cruz, the smallest guy on the floor, went perfect on his field goals and pumped in 20 of his 24 points in the second half, highlighted by an 8-point cluster in the fourth quarter, to push the Warriors past the Lagunenses, who led for over 36 minutes only to crumble in the wake of the Warriors' spirited comeback from a 41-53 deficit.

Biñan was still ahead, 82-78, with 1 minute and 35 seconds left, only to be held scoreless the rest of the way, while South Cotabato strung eight points on a triple by Cruz, an inside thrust by Jammer Jamito and split charities by Felix Apreku and Marwin Dionisio.

Cruz canned three triples and three 2-pointers to go with 9 free throws out of 11 tries to run away with the Daily Fantasy best player honors over Jamito, who tallied 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Val Acuna was the other Warrior in twin digits with 14.

Biñan got 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals from Kenny Roger Rocacurva, 13 points from Pamboy Raymundo and 11 from Carlo Lastimosa.

It was the same sad story for Biñan, which also suffered an 81-82 meltdown to South Cotabato in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 29-team tournament.

The MPBL Playoffs resume on Saturday at the San Andres Sports Complex with games pitting San Juan against Rizal at 6 p.m. and Caloocan against Manila at 8 p.m. The San Juan Knights and the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo are gunning for their second win that would put them in the semifinal round.