MANILA – Bacolod MassKara snapped a three-game skid and finally barged into the win column of the 2026 MPBL Preseason Invitational after grinding out an 82-74 victory over Sarangani 10ACT on Monday night at the Marikina Sports Center.
Adven Diputado fired 20 points laced with four assists, three steals and two rebounds to power Bacolod to its first win in four outings and halt its early-season slide.
Johnnel Bauzon nearly posted a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Nino Ibanez added 12 markers. Riel Cervantes and Arvie Bringas chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, as MassKara leaned on a balanced offensive attack to pull away late.
Sarangani remained winless through six games despite Lars Sunga’s double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Carl Bryan Lacap and Migs Pascual scored 11 points apiece, while Danny Marilao added 10 markers and three rebounds in the loss.
In the nightcap, the San Juan Knights Go for Gold clinched a playoff berth after fending off the Muntinlupa Cagers, 81-73.
Muntinlupa threatened in the closing stretch, trimming the deficit to 76-73 behind a seven-point run. But San Juan clamped down defensively and held the Cagers scoreless in the final 3:59 to secure its sixth straight win and lock in a top-three finish in Group B’s nine-team elimination round.
Terrence Fortea drained a crucial three-pointer in the waning minutes, while Michael Calisaan delivered a putback to steady the Knights.
Bacolod native Harold Alarcon earned Best Player honors with 12 points and five rebounds. Calisaan tallied a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, while fellow Negrense Reyland Torres added 11 markers.
The loss knocked Muntinlupa out of contention as it dropped to 2-4. MJ Dela Virgen paced the Cagers with 20 points and four assists, Miguel Ives Corteza contributed 15, and Shawn Argente registered 12 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals./PN
