MANILA, Philippines — Zamboanga SiKat banked on Paeng Are to nip Pasig, 91-89, on Thursday in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Malolos Convention Center in Bulacan.
The 5-foot-9 Are, former star of the San Sebastian Golden Stags, poured in 16 of his points in the fourth quarter as Pasig halted a 5-game skid and improve to 2-7 in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.
The game was tied at 81, until Joshua Lazaro scored on a jumper and Are converted five straight free throws that enabled Zamboanga to cut loose, 88-81, with 1 minute and 24 seconds left.
Are also tallied 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals to clinch the SportsPlus best player honors over Reggz Gabat, who notched 19 points, spiced by five triples, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
John Arthur Calisay contributed 11 points, 2 assists and 2 rebounds for Zamboanga, which dominated the boards, 50-32, mainly through Lazaro's 12 rebounds.
Pasig saw its four-win run broken and fell to 6-2 despite Jacob Galicia's 19 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals, Jerome Garcia's 18 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, and Warlo Batac's 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Gabat buried back-to-back triples to push Zamboanga on top, 41-38, before Galicia scored on a follow-up for the halftime count.
The MPBL returns to the Paco Arena in Manila on Friday, featuring games between Paranaque and Valenzuela at 4 p.m., Gensan and Cebu at 6 p.m., and Manila and Abra at 8 p.m. TMT
