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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Ilagan Isabela too much for Sarangani; Imus, Iloilo triumph

Ilagan Isabela too much for Sarangani; Imus, Iloilo triumph

Published Apr 30, 2026 03:29 pm

At A Glance

  • The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys sustained their climb with a 102-75 victory over the Sarangani Marlins on Wednesday, April 29, in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Baliwag Star Arena in Bulacan.
Eroll Soriano delivers for Imus Yangkee. (MPBL Images)
Eroll Soriano delivers for Imus Yangkee. (MPBL Images)
The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys sustained their climb with a 102-75 victory over the Sarangani Marlins on Wednesday, April 29, in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Baliwag Star Arena in Bulacan.
With five players hitting double figures, the Cowboys surged beyond reach, 100-66, before coasting to their third straight win after an initial loss in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.
Cowboy Joseph Gabayni tallied 16 points and 9 rebounds and was chosen the best player, followed by JP Cauilan with 14 points, spiked by four triples, and 2 rebounds, Arth Dela Cruz with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, and Joshua Guiab with 10 points and 6 rebounds.
Dominant off the boards, 60-36, the Cowboys poured in 68 points in the paint against the Marlins' 28.
Sarangani, which fell to 1-3, got 12 points and 13 rebounds from King Destacamento, 13 points from Charles Callano, and 10 points from John Carlos Escalambre.
The Iloilo United Royals averted a major collapse and beat Manila Batang Quiapo, 101-96, in the opener, while Imus Yangkee leaned on a Jordan Rios tip-in with 4 seconds left to nip Bulacan, 86-85, in the nightcap.
After Janjan Salazar missed a jumper, Rios soared for the decider that leveled Imus' record to 2-2 and pulled Bulacan down to 1-3.
Ralph Robin shone for Imus with 21 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals, and so did homegrown Eroll Soriano with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists, and homegrown Ghed Ong with 10 points.
Imus erased a 65-75 deficit and led at 82-80 following a triple by Airohn Acop and again at 85-84 after a triple by Kenneth Castillo with 11.1 seconds to go.
Acop tallied 22 points, 5 assists, 4 steals and 3 rebounds, followed by Benedict Benedictos with 21 points and 6 rebounds, and Mart James Barrera with 16 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals.
Way ahead, 72-50, Iloilo turned cold in the fourth quarter, allowing Manila to seize control at 93-92 with 2 minutes and 14 seconds to go.
Kyt Jimenez and Levi Hernandez, however, combined for nine points in the homestretch to preserve the United Royals' victory.
Hernandez posted 36 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists to clinch the best player honors over Jimenez, with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
Paul Sanga contributed 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists for Iloilo before sustaining a hand injury late in the fourth quarter.
With Doligon at the helm, Batang Quiapo bundled 13 points to threaten at 78-79, paving the way for the see-saw finish.
Manila tumbled to 1-3 despite John Ashley Faa's 26 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds, Mark Doligon's 24 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, and Alfred Sedillo's 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists.
The tournament goes to the Batangas City Coliseum on Thursday, featuring games between Valenzuela and Negros at 4 p.m., Marikina against Caloocan at 6 p.m., and Binan against Batangas at 8 p.m.

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