MANILA, Philippines — Binan Tatak Gel banked on the hot hands of Nic Cabanero in the fourth quarter to subdue the Meycauayan Marilao Gems, 70-64, on Saturday and gain on the leaders of the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the people-packed Pola Gymnasium in Oriental Mindoro.
The 6-foot-2 Cabanero, former star of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, poured in 11 points, including pivotal back-to-back triples, in that span as Binan notched its eighth straight win and improved its record to 11-3 in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.
Binan trails Quezon Province (9-0), Gensan (12-2), which is tangling with Zamboanga SiKat in the second game, and Batangas (11-2) in the South division race for playoff berths.
Amassing 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in a 24-minute, 56-second stint, Cabanero was chosen the SportsPlus best player over Carlo Lastimosa, who had 18 points and 3 rebounds.
Pamboy Raymundo also shone for Binan with 11 points and 5 rebounds, followed by Warren Bonifacio and Kenny Roger Rocacurva with 6 points each.
A brownout interrupted play midway of the third quarter and when action resumed, Binan bunched six points, four by Pamboy Raymundo to seize control at 40-38.
The Gems managed to regain the lead through triples by Joshua Guiab at 41-40 and 45-44, but Cabanero poured in 5 points in a closing 6-point run to push Binan ahead for good.
Agem Miranda delivered 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals for the Gems, who tumbled to 8-5 in the North division.
Shawn Argente drilled in a triple to spark a closing 13-4 run that put the Gems ahead, 29-26, at halftime.
MPBL Commissioner Emmer Oreta and Mindoro Tamaraws team owner and Pola Mayor Jennifer "Ina Alegre" Cruz headed the overflow crowd that included fans from the capital, Calapan City, and Occidental Mindoro.
The tournament goes to the Ynares Center Pasig on Monday, featuring games between Imus and Basilan at 4 p.m., Pasay and Bacolod at 6 p.m., and Quezon Province and Abra at 8 p.m. TMT
