MANILA, Philippines — Caloocan trounced Cebu, 89-76, to bolster its bid for the top spot in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Cebu Coliseum.
Powered by Jeff Manday, Jammer Jamito and Kymani Ladi, the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo surged ahead, 49-26, en route to their 16th win against two losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 27-team tournament.
Caloocan trailed defending champion Abra Solid North (14-1) and San Juan (14-1) in the North division race for playoff spots.
The 6-foot Manday, a prized find from Bacolod City, posted 15 points, including three triples, 14 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals to clinch the SportsPlus best player honors over Jamito, with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks, and Ladi, with 17 points, spiked by four triples, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks.
"We stayed composed even with the highly physical plays of the Greats in their homecourt," said Manday, who also helped shut down the Cebu gunners.
Eric Camson also shone for Caloocan with 10 points and 5 rebounds, followed by Dom Escobar, with 7 points and 2 rebounds, and Kean Baclaan, with 6 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds.
Cebu tumbled to 14-5 and the fifth spot in the South division despite Mark Menses' 27 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Cebu Greats are behind the Batangas City Tanduay Athletics (14-2), the Quezon Huskers (12-2), the Gensan Warriors (14-3) and Binan Tatak Gel (14-3), which rallied from eight points down in the last four minutes to stun Cebu, 78-77, last Thursday.
Mindoro survives Zamboanga
Mindoro survived harrowing charity misses to nip Zamboanga SiKat, 83-80, in the opener to rev up its playoff drive.
Ahead by as far as 64-38, the Mindoro Tamaraws had to fend off the Zamboanguenos' fiery rally in the fourth quarter to chalk up their eighth win in 16 starts.
The Tamaraws' Brian Heruela missed three free throws and Joseph Sedurifa two, in the homestretch, giving Zamboanga the chance to equalize.
Zamboanga's Levi Hernandez and Forthsky Padrigao, however, missed their triple tries owing to the tough defense put up by Mindoro, with neither team scoring in the last 2 minutes and 53 seconds.
With Hernandez drilling in three triples, Reggz Gabat two, and Brandon Wilson one, Zamboanga crawled out of a 72-52 hole after three quarters to peg the final count.
Bambam Gamalinda paced Mindoro with 14 points and 8 rebounds, but RJ Ramirez was chosen the best player with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Other Tamaraws who delivered were Jayvee Dela Cruz, with 13 points and 3 assists, Jayjay Caspe with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, and Marion Magat with 12 points and 6 rebounds.
Zamboanga, which slipped to 6-11, got 17 points each from Padrigao and Hernandez, 14 from Gabat and 13 from Wilson.
"Grabe. I was so nervous. Fortunately, we won," said Mindoro Tamaraws team owner Mayor Jennifer "Ina Alegre" Cruz.
The MPBL returns to the One Arena Cainta on Monday, featuring games between Imus and Valenzuela at 4 p.m., Abra Solid North and Bacolod at 6 p.m., Marikina and Ilagan Isabela at 8 p.m.
Fernandez heads Cebuano players given recognition
Cebuano players who have made their mark in local basketball were honored by the MPBL after the Mindoro-Zamboanga tussle.
Ramon Fernandez, hailed as one of the greatest Filipino cagers ever, headed the honorees given plaques of recognition for their contributions to the sport.
"I'd like to thank the MPBL through the leadership of Sen. Manny (Pacquiao) (for recognizing the Cebuano legends)," said Fernandez, a four-time PBA MVP and a multiple star of Philippine teams. "Certainly this is a big honor for me, especially that it is held in Cebu. This is the gym where I practically started my career."
Also feted were Bonel Balingit, Elmer "Boy" Cabahug, Peter Naron, Marcelino "Terry" Albarillo, Rodolfo Jose "Bong" Abad Jr., Hilario "Larry" Villanil, Calvin Tuadles, Alfonso "Al" Solis, Lowell Briones, Alexandro "Jojo" Lim, Maximo "Mad Max" Delantes, Wilfredo "Willy" Generalao, Norberto "Titing Manalili Sr., Rogelio "Roger" Yap Jr., Junthy L. Valenzuela, Cresencio "Dondon" Ampalayo, Manuel "Manny" Paner, Ramon "Montoy" Singson, Jercules "Jojo" Tangkay and Reynaldo "Reyns" Yncierto, who flew in from Carson, California, for the occasion.
Unable to make it were Lowell Briones and Manny Paner.
MPBL Founder and Chairman Manny Pacquiao, in a video message, greeted the fans for supporting the league, the basketball legends for coming together, and the Cebu Greats for returning and hosting the four games, the first two of which were held at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City.
Pacquiao said he hopes to be present when the next MPBL games are held in Cebu.
MPBL Commissioner Emmer Oreta said: "Cebuano players have been known to be all-out and will do everything to win. We hope the legends will inspire the young players to play the same way."
Operations Head Zaldy Realubit said other deserving Cebuano players will be recognized in the future.
The MPBL returns to the One Arena Cainta on Monday, featuring games between Imus and Valenzuela at 4 p.m., Abra Solid North and Bacolod at 6 p.m., and Marikina and Ilagan Isabela at 8 p.m.
Caption: Ramon Fernandez, flanked by MPBL Commissioner Emmer and Operations Head Zaldy Realubit, heads Cebuano basketball greats given recognition by the league. TMT
