MANILA, Philippines — Binan Tatak Gel shot better and rebounded stronger to rout Zamboanga SiKat, 72-53, on Saturday and extended its hot streak in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the One Arena Cainta in Rizal Province.
Ahead from the start, Binan led as far as 69-41 before cruising to its seventh straight win and a 10-3 slate in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.
Binan is at the fourth spot in the South division, trailing Quezon Province (8-0), Gensan (12-1) and Batangas (9-2).
Nic Cabanero struck hardest for Binan with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, clinching the SportsPlus best player honors over Michael Mabulac, who had 15 points, 11 in the third quarter, and 10 rebounds.
Binan, with Jason Ballesteros and Kenny Roger Rocacurva helping out Mabulac, dominated the boards, 48-36, and frolicked underneath with 36 points against Zamboanga's 16.
The Lagunenses also converted 26 of 58 field goals (44.8 percent) against the Zamboanguenos' 18 of 64 (28.1 percent) and 15 of 20 free throws (75 percent) against their opponents' 12 of 19 (63.2 percent).
Zamboanga saw its three-win run broken and fell to 4-8 in the race for playoff spots.
Only Paeng Are struck back for Zamboanga with 15 points, getting little help from John Arthur Calisay with 9 points.
The MPBL continues on Monday at the Paco Arena in Manila, featuring games between Meycauayan Marilao and Imus at 4 p.m., Basilan and Gensan at 6 p.m., and Valenzuela and Bacolod at 8 p.m. TMT
