MPBL: Binan escapes Cebu as Cebuano hoops legends to be feted
MANILA, Philippines — Binan Tatak Gel crawled out of a deep hole to nip Cebu, 78-77, on Thursday in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the jam-packed Hoops Stadium in Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan.
Down by eight points with 4:07 seconds to go, Binan poured in 12 points against only three by Cebu to snatch its 12th straight win and climb to 14-3 in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 27-team tournament.
Carlo Lastimosa presided over Binan's fiery rally with four points in the last three minutes, including the marginal basket, while Jaymar Gimpayan and Pamboy Raymundo added three points each, and Nic Cabanero two.
It was Kenny Rocacurva, however, who captured Best Player honors with 19 points, seven rebounds, five steals and two assists in 28 minutes and 49 seconds of play.
"We just played our game and cope with Cebu's defense," said Rocacurva, a Cebuano from San Francisco, Camotes Islands.
Cabanero posted 14 points, four rebounds and three assists; Lastimosa 12 points and four rebounds; and Gimpayan 12 points plus two assists for Binan — which caught up with Gensan — and moved closer to Batangas City (14-2) — which beat Basilan Steel, 87-71, in the first game — and Quezon Province (12-2) in the South Division playoff race.
The Cebu Greats fell to 14-4 despite Jun Manzo's 23 points — spiked by five triples — and two assists, and Mark Meneses' 13 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and two steals.
The Batangas City Tanduay Athletics pulled away, 84-61, with a 19-4 salvo sparked by Rhinwill Yambing and Ino Comboy en route to their 12th straight win.
Jhan Nermal paced Batangas with 23 points — including three triples — seven rebounds, three assists and two steals; followed by Comboy with 19 points, four assists and three rebounds.
Apart from Nermal, who earned Best Player honors, and Comboy, who drilled in five triples, other Athletics who shone were Yambing with 11 points and two rebounds, and Kraniel Viloria, with eight points and four rebounds.
"Our focus is really on defense and to execute our plays," Nermal said. "We're not thinking about being No. 1, but our coming games."
Basilan, which tumbled to 8-10, drew 12 points from Neil Owens; 11 points, 10 rebounds and two steals from John Wilson; and nine points plus five assists from Gab Cometa.
Cebuano basketball legends to be honored
Cebu will try to bounce back on Saturday, when it tangles with Caloocan at 8 p.m. at the Cebu Coliseum. Mindoro and Zamboanga SiKat clash at 5 p.m., after which Cebuano players who have made their mark in local basketball will be honored by the MPBL.
Ramon Fernandez, a four-time PBA MVP and considered as one of the greatest Filipino cagers ever, heads the 21 honorees to be given plaques of recognition for their contributions to the sport.
Also to be feted are Bonel Balingit, Elmer "Boy" Cabahug, Peter Naron, Marcelino "Terry" Albarillo, Rodolfo Jose "Bong" Abad Jr., Hilario "Larry" Villanil, Calvin Tuadles, Alfonso "Al" Solis, Lowell Briones, Alexandro "Jojo" Lim, Maximo "Mad Max" Delantes, Wilfredo "Willy" Generalao, Norberto "Titing Manalili Sr., Rogelio "Roger" Yap Jr., Junthy L. Valenzuela, Cresencio "Dondon" Ampalayo, Manuel "Manny" Paner, Ramon "Montoy" Singson, Jercules "Jojo" Tangkay and Reynaldo "Reyns" Yncierto.
MPBL Commissioner Emmer Oreta and Operations Head Zaldy Realubit said other deserving Cebuano players will also be recognized in the future.
Cebu Greats representative Sam Lato said they expect another sellout crowd due to brisk ticket sales. (Pool story)
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