Zamboanga Master Sardines and Caloocan trounced their opponents on Thursday, May 16, and stayed close to the leaders in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Olivarez College Gym in Paranaque.

Leading throughout, Zamboanga thwarted Bacolod City of Smiles, 77-62, while Caloocan drubbed Marikina, 64-38, in the elimination round of the 29-team tournament.

Zamboanga tallied its seventh win against a loss, keeping its distance from Caloocan, which rose to 4-1 in the standings.

Flashing the form that made him the 2022 MPBL MVP, Jaycee Marcelino wound up with 23 points and four rebounds despite sustaining a nose injury in the third quarter.

Rey Joey Barcuma contributed 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, followed by Adrian Santos with 10 points and seven rebounds. Kenneth Alas, son of Zamboanga Coach Louie Alas, added six points, a game-high 14 rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Bacolod, which trailed at 43-61, got 12 points from homegrown John Lemuel Pastias and 10 from Jacob Galicia.

The Batang Kankaloo pulled away, 52-31, after three quarters and were never threatened by the Shoemasters, who tumbled to 1-7.

Paul Hendrix Casin led Caloocan with 13 points, followed by Jeramer Cabanag with nine points. They got plenty of support as 10 other Batang Kankaloo posted at least 10 points.

The MPBL visits the San Andres Sports Complex on Friday, May 17, with a triple bill pitting Imus against Sarangani at 4 p.m., Nueva Ecija against Bulacan at 6 p.m. and Valenzuela against Manila at 8 p.m.

The Manila Stars will be fielding 7-footer Greg Slaughter for the first time and 6-7 Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who'll return after a one-game suspension.