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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Caloocan grabs solo MPBL lead; Biñan, Quezon beat rivals

Caloocan grabs solo MPBL lead; Biñan, Quezon beat rivals

Published May 2, 2026 01:54 pm

At A Glance

  • Caloocan subdued Marikina, 84-71, on Friday, May 1, and grabbed the solo lead in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
Nic Cabanero shines for Binan Tatak Gel
Nic Cabanero shines for Binan Tatak Gel

Caloocan subdued Marikina, 84-71, on Friday, May 1, and grabbed the solo lead in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

The Batang Kankaloo, with Eric Camson at the helm, led as far as 78-56 before cruising to their fifth straight win and moving ahead of Gensan (4-0) in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.

Camson wound up with 17 points and 8 rebounds and was chosen the SportsPlus best player over Kean Baclaan, with 11 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds, Kymani Ladi, with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks, and Dom Escobar, with 10 points plus 6 rebounds.

Taller and bigger, the Batang Kankaloo ruled the boards, 45-32, and converted this to more points in the paint, 38-26, in the second game of a triple-bill.

The Marikina Shoemasters slid to 2-3 despite Louie Vigil's 20-point, 7-rebound, 3-assist output, Jeff Javillonar's 14 points and 3 assists, and RR Casajeros' 13 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds. 

Binan Tatak Gel silenced Basilan Steel in the last 3 minutes and 10 seconds to pull off a come-from-behind 80-70 victory in the nightcap.

The count was tied at 70 until Kenny Roger Rocacurva completed a 3-point play and scored on a drive, sparking a closing 10-point run by Binan.

Basilan surged ahead, 27-13, but Binan wrested control, 51-49, after a 13-point cluster.

Carlo Lastimosa paced Binan with 16 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds, followed by Rocacurva with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists, Nic Cabanero, with 11 points and 6 rebounds, and Pamboy Raymundo with 11 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds.

Basilan, which tumbled to 2-3, got 13 points each from John Byron Villarias and Gab Cometa, and 12 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals from John Wilson.

Quezon Province quelled Meycauayan Marilao's fiery rally to prevail, 84-75, in the opener.

The Gems threatened at 73-74 after a triple by Shawn Argente and two charities by Agem Miranda with 2 minutes and 52 seconds to go.

The Huskers, however, countered with a 10-point cluster, triggered by back-to-back triples by Joshua Yerro and Judel Fuentes, to secure their third straight win.

Cedrick Manzano posted 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, Fuentes 18 points, 9 assists and 4 rebounds, and Yerro 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals en route to being chosen the SportsPlus best player. 

Meycauayan, which fell to 2-3, drew 18 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists from Miranda, 15 points, 4 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists from Argente, and 11 points from Jayson Apolonio.

The MPBL returns to the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Saturday, featuring the explosive encounter between defending champion Abra Solid North and San Juan at 8 p.m. Other games pit Paranaque against Mindoro at 4 p.m., and Cebu against Bataan at 6 p.m.

Related Tags

MPBL Caloocan Batang Kankaloo
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