MANILA – The Basilan Starhorse Viva Portmasters shrugged off a sluggish start and unleashed a second-half rally to turn back the skidding Muntinlupa Cagers, 92-80, for their sixth consecutive win in the 2025 MPBL Season over the weekend at the Paco Arena.
Alex Cabagnot sparked Basilan’s breakaway in the third quarter, drilling eight points including back-to-back triples that turned a 64-all deadlock into a 71-64 cushion entering the final frame. The Portmasters, who trailed by as many as 12 in the opening quarter, improved to 16-11 for sixth spot in the South Division.
Veteran forward Arwind Santos carried Basilan with 18 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Cabagnot finished with 15 markers, seven dimes and three boards. Gab Dagangon (13 points, seven rebounds), Emman Calo (12 points, seven assists) and James Tempra (10 points, nine rebounds) also chipped in.
Muntinlupa suffered its 14th straight defeat to drop to 10-16 despite Patrick Ramos’ 21 points, nine assists and seven boards. Kurt Lojera added 20 points, nine rebounds and three steals, while Bacolod native Domark Matillano and Miguel Ives Cortez combined for 25 markers.
In the other game, the Biñan Tatak Gel Beast Motorcycle Tires GameX clobbered the Bacolod City Tubo Slashers, 85-56, behind Carlo Lastimosa’s 19 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Kristan Hernandez tallied 17 points and six boards, Jaymar Gimpayan added 13 points and six rebounds, while Warren Bonifacio delivered a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds with three steals and two assists as Biñan climbed to 15-11.
Bacolod slid to 4-22, with only Mark Ray Dubouzet (18 points) and Jaycee Sam Adjei (13) showing resistance in the lopsided loss./PN
