MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon Huskers clobbered the Bacolod Masskaras, 113-61, on Tuesday to move closer to the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season pacesetters at the Ynares Center Montalban in Rizal Province.
Flaunting depth and power, the Huskers led throughout and surged beyond reach after three quarters, 97-44. The reigning South Division champions continued the pounding to notch their fourth straight win in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.
All 15 Huskers fielded scored as they trailed only the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo and the Gensan Warriors, both with 6-0 records, in the standings.
Joseph Penaredondo pumped in 15 points from 5 triples to clinch the SportsPlus best player honors over Cedric Manzano, with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.
Other Huskers who delivered were Michael Canete, with 11 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds, and Joshua Yerro, with 11 points and 2 assists.
Bacolod tumbled to 1-6 as only Kurt Abram Lactaotao struck back with 22 points and 6 rebounds.
Marikina turned hot in the second half and routed Negros, 96-75, in the second game to improve to 3-4.
Led by Louie Vigil, the Shoemasters detonated a 13-3 bomb to break free after three quarters, 52-44. They then bundled 10 points in the fourth quarter to post their biggest spread, 94-69, with 1 minute and 40 seconds left.
Vigil, who posted 23 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, got support from Ace Russell Tiamzon, with 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists; Deo Timajo, with 12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists; Jeff Javillonar, with 12 points and 6 assists; Jonathan Medina, with 10 points and 7 assists, and Lander Canon, with 3 points and 12 rebounds.
Negros absorbed its fifth straight defeat despite Jan Formento's 18 points and 5 assists, Adven Diputado's 17 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals, and Carl Joshua Alattica's 15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists.
The MPBL returns to the Caloocan Sports Complex on Wednesday, featuring games between Abra and Imus at 4 p.m., Cebu and Sarangani at 6 p.m., and Caloocan and Iloilo at 8 p.m. TMT
