MANILA – Basilan Starhorse Viva Portmasters got a vintage performance from Alex Cabagnot to score an 86-79 victory over Sarangani Grippers in the 2025 MPBL Season on Tuesday night at the Orion Sports Complex in Bataan.
The 42-year-old former San Miguel Beermen mainstay posted a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds to go with five assists and three steals as the Viva Portmasters climbed to 12-11 in the standings.
“I am just thankful to the MPBL platform. We’re kinda grinding out a little bit and we have won two in a row,” Cabagnot remarked during his Player of the Game interview.
“We have been enjoying the MPBL for the last four, five, or six months, and now we are down to the last two months, dikit dikitan na ang labanan so mas exciting,” he added.
The Viva Portmasters tightened their hold of the eighth spot in the South Division, being led by the Quezon Huskers (18-4) and Zamboanga SiKat (16-7).
Basilan stands a good chance of advancing to the playoffs as its remaining games are against Ilagan Isabela, Imus, Zamboanga, Muntinlupa, Marikina and Quezon City, respectively.
“On maintaining our eighth spot in the standings, we will just take it day by day, game by game,” Cabagnot further said.
Adrian Santos contributed 13 points, five rebounds and three assists, Emman Calo finished with nine markers, while Arwind Santos and Gab Dagangon ended with eight apiece for Basilan.
With Adrian Santos firing 11 points and Jervy Cruz and Jimboy Pasturan drilling in two triples each, Basilan led 42-33 at halftime. They went on to speed away at 80-62 midway through the fourth quarter.
Sarangani dipped to 9-14 despite Larce Sunga’s 19 points, Danny Marilao’s 17 points, five rebounds and three assists, Jeff Viernes’ 13 points and Kyt Jimenez’s 10 points./PN
BOX SCORE
BASILAN 86 — Cabagnot 17, Ad. Santos 13, Calo 9, Ar. Santos 8, Dagangon 8, Tempra 6, Cruz 6, Pasturan 6, Caduyac 4, Mahari 4, Navarro 3, Alvarez 2, Joson 0, Barasi 0.
SARANGANI 79 — Sunga 19, Marilao 17, Viernes 13, Jimenez 10, Alves 9, Gozum 6, Pascual 3, Callano 2, Destacamento 0, Decano 0, Brillantes 0.
Quarterscores: 19-11, 42-33, 69-55, 86-79.
