MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City hit full throttle in the fourth quarter and subdued Manila Batang Quiapo, 108-99, on Tuesday to remain in contention for an outright playoff slot in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Pasay Astrodome.
Held to a 77-70 lead after three quarters, Pasig banked on Warlo Batac and Jerome Garcia to pull away, 97-75, midway through the final frame before coasting to its 10th win in 20 starts in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 26-team tournament.
Pasig is at seventh place in the North division and could still catch up with either Meycauayan Marilao and Pasay, both 12-10, for the sixth spot and an outright stint in the quarterfinal playoffs.
Teams ranked seventh to 10th will have to go through the play-in, with the best two performers completing the playoff cast in both North and South divisions.
Garcia, a homegrown icon, posted 28 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists to edge Batac, with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists, for the SportsPlus best player honors.
Jerald Bautista supported with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, followed by Jacob Galicia, with 9 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, and John Felix Corpuz, with 10 points and 2 rebounds.
Also-ran Manila fell to a league-worst 1-22 slate despite Joe Gomez De Liano's 22 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals; John Ashley Faa's 22 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals; Alfred Sedillo's 16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals; and Mark Doligon's 10 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.
The score could have been closer if not for Manila's poor free-throw shooting, converting only 10 of 24 attempts or 41.7 percent.
The tournament returns to the Batangas City Coliseum on Wednesday, featuring games between Valenzuela and Rizal Province at 5 p.m., and San Juan and Batangas at 7 p.m. TMT
