The Quezon Huskers wasted a big lead and needed overtime to subdue the Davao Occidental Tigers, 92-85, on Monday, Sept. 9, in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.

Ahead by as far as 61-33 behind Judel Fuentes' hot hands, the Huskers turned cold in the fourth quarter where the Tigers countered with a 23-1 opening tear and eventually forced extension at 80-all on Kenneth 

Ighalo's reverse layup with 17 seconds left.

The Huskers kept their poise, however, and through the combined efforts of RJ Minerva, LJ Gonzales, Gab Banal and Fuentes moved ahead, 91-85, to seal their 20th win against 5 losses and keep the top spot in the South Division, which has completed its 8 playoff cast, of the 29-team tournament.

Joining Quezon in the quarterfinals are Zamboanga (19-6), Batangas (17-8), Binan (17-8), Paranaque (15-10), Davao (15-11), South Cotabato (15-11) and Negros (12-15).

Fuentes posted 38 points, spiked by nine triples, to clinch the Daily Fantasy best player honors over Gonzales, who chalked 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, and Gab Banal, who tallied 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Ighalo bunched 8 points opening the fourth quarter and wound up with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for the Tigers, who got a triple-double (13 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) from Arth Dela Cruz, 13 points plus 5 rebounds from Keith Agovida, 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists from Mark Tallo, and 10 points plus 12 rebounds from Chris Lalata.

Other games saw Quezon City TODA Aksyon stun Caloocan, 77-72, and Pasay batter Bicolandia, 122-106.
The QC Capitals banked on JP Cauilan to tally their third straight victory and climb to 12-13, still in the hunt for a playoff spot in the North Division.

Cauilan posted 18 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, followed by Rhinwill Yambing with 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals, and Hubert Cani with 10 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds.

Caloocan, which fell to 14-9, got 20 points and 9 rebounds from Gabby Espinas and 11 points and 6 rebounds from Paul Sanga.

Although the Batang Kankaloo ruled the boards, 59-46, the Capitals compensated by sinking 13 of 37 triple attempts against only five for their rivals.

Pasay rose to 17-9 and stay in the hunt for a top-four spot in the North being led by San Juan (24-1), Pampanga (24-2), Nueva Ecija (21-3) and Manila (17-8).

Laurenz Victoria chalked 17 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals while Warren Bonifacio notched 15 points and 12 rebounds. It was Cyrus Tabi, however, who was chosen as the game's best player with 13 points, 5 steals and 3 rebounds.

Also-ran Bicolandia tumbled to 3-21 despite the 34-point, 6-assist, 5-rebound effort of Lord Hower Casajeros.

The MPBL goes to the FPJ Arena in San Jose on Tuesday with games pitting Mindoro against Valenzuela at 4 p.m., Abra against Pampanga at 6 p.m., and host Batangas against Manila at 8 p.m.