The Quezon Huskers shook off the challenge of the Negros Muscovados to prevail, 73-62, on Saturday, June 1, and took the solo lead in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Held to a 56-52 lead after the third quarter, the Huskers finally broke free in the fourth behind LJ Gonzales, Jason Opiso and Rodel Gravera to tally their ninth straight win and move ahead of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards and the San Juan Knights, both with 8-0 cards.

Gravera, a 6-foot-5 homegrown icon given ample time following the season-ending ACL injury sustained by Will Gozum, paced Quezon with 18 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Opiso with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Gonzales finished with six points, eight assists and five rebounds for the 14-man Huskers, only two of whom failed to score.

The Muscovados, who tumbled to 4-7, got 19 points from Hubert Cani, 12 from Jeff Comia, 11 from Bill Geolingo and 10 from Mark Atabay.

Earlier, Caloocan trounced undermanned Mindoro, 90-76, to get back on track with a 6-2 record.

Derailed by Zamboanga, 65-72, on May 28, the Batang Kankaloo bunched 12 points on two triples by Paul Sanga, two jumpers by Gabby Espinas and a layup by Antonio Bonsubre to pull away for good, 74-49.

Espinas paced Caloocan with 17 points and five rebounds, followed by Reil Cervantes with 11 points plus six rebounds, and Ronnie Matias and Damian Lasco with eight points each.

The Tamaraws, who missed the services of Top Gun Ken Bono, Andres Desiderio and Art Patrick Aquino, fell to 4-6 despite the 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists of Jordan Rios.

The MPBL returns to the Orion Sports Center on Monday, June 3, with games pitting Bicol against Muntinlupa at 4 p.m., Abra against Bacolod at 6 p.m. and Zamboanga against Bataan at 8 p.m.