Rizal Xentromall banked on Alwyn Alday to subdue also-ran Imus, 103-92, on Wednesday, Sept. 11, and boost its playoff bid in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.

Nueva Ecija battered Sarangani, 117-80, and Binan Tatak Gel dumped Iloilo, 97-67, in the other games of the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 29-team tournament.

qsAlday tallied a career-high and MPBL season-high 43 points, spiked by 7 triples, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals to earn the Daily Fantasy best player honors and power the Rizal Golden Coolers to a 14-win, 12-loss record, good for the No. 8 spot in the North Division.

No other Golden Cooler scored in double figures with Jeric Serrano and John Winfred Gob contributing 8 points each.

Imus, which tumbled to 1-24, got 36 points, spiced by 10 triples, 7 rebounds and 3 assists from Jameson Hiro and 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals from Nemesis Dela Cruz.

Rizal is disputing the eighth and last playoff seat inn the North with Quezon City and Valenzuela, both with 12-13 slates.

Newcomer Abra (15-9) and Caloocan (14-9) are virtually assured of advancing to the North playoffs with early qualifiers and overall leaders San Juan (24-1), Pampanga (25-2) and Nueva Ecija (22-3). Manila (17-8) and Pasay (17-9) have also secured their spots in the quarterfinal round.

John Byron Villarias led six Rice Vanguards in twin digits with 16 points. John Wilson and Will McAloney contributed 14 points each, Chris Bitoon 13, Mer Jesper Ayayay 12 and Gab Dagangon 11.

Sarangani, which skidded to 5-19, drew 16 points and 9 rebounds from Coy Alvez and 14 points each from Adven Jess Diputado and Ryan Isaac Sual.

Unlike Rizal, whose fate hangs in the balance, Binan is certain to make the top 4 in the South Division eliminations and gain the homecourt advantage in the 3-game quarterfinal round playoffs.

Binan leaned Jeric James Pido and four others to extend its win-run to seven and catch up with Batangas at 18-8 in the South Division being lorded over by Quezon Province (20-5) and Zamboanga Master Sardines (19-6).

Pido posted 15 points, Pamboy Raymundo 14, Jonathan Grey, Junjie Hallare and actor Ronnie Alonte with 11 each.

Iloilo fell to 8-17 despite Mark Nonoy'3 33-point effort.

The MPBL visits the Cuneta Astrodome on Thursday with games pitting Bulacan against San Juan at 4 p.m., Paranaque against Bacolod at 6 p.m., and Zamboanga against host Pasay at 8 p.m.