Rizal, Binan forge semifinal duel in MPBL South
MANILA, Philippines — Rizal XentroMall struck from afar and routed Gensan, 96-74, on Monday to arrange a semifinal clash with Binan Tatak Gel in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at Paco Arena in Manila.
Binan trounced Mindoro, 91-77, in the first game to become the South Division's first semifinalist.
Both Rizal and Mindoro swept their rivals, 2-0, in the quarterfinal playoffs of the two-division tournament.
While Binan, being the second-ranked qualifier, lived up to the hype against seventh-seed Mindoro, No. 6 Rizal's romp over No. 3 Gensan was a big surprise.
Sinking 14 of 27 triple attempts for a high 51.9% conversion, the Rizal Golden Coolers overwhelmed the Warriors, who could only connect 8 of 32 for 25%.
Laurenz Victoria anchored the Rizal fusillade, making 4 of 5 triple shots, even as Mark Yee went 3-for-3, and Alwyn Alday canned 4 of 10.
The former star of the Mapua Cardinals posted 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals and was named Best Player over Alday, who tallied 16 points, three assists and two rebounds.
Yee, who got ejected in the homestretch due to two technical fouls, contributed 10 points and four rebounds; followed by Jolo Mendoza and AJ Coronel with nine points each, and Billy Robles with eight, seven in the third quarter when the Golden Coolers pulled away, 66-50.
The Warriors, who trailed as far as 66-91, drew 14 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals from MPBL All-Star Hesed Gabo, and 13 points plus four assists from Mark Cruz.
Powered by MVP race pacesetter Nic Cabanero's 25 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals, Binan repeated its 78-70 conquest of Mindoro in Game 1.
Cabanero, former star of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, poured in 19 points in the second half, when Binan surged ahead 87-70 and never looked back.
Back-to-back triples by Bambam Gamalinda and Joseph Sedurifa pushed Mindoro within 65-74, but Cabanero pumped in five in a seven-point Binan run that decided the outcome, 81-65, with 3:53 left.
Kenny Rocacurva supported Cabanero with 13 points and five rebounds; Michael Mabulac finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists; Pamboy Raymundo tallied nine points, 10 assists, four rebounds and three steals; and Marc Pingris recorded nine points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Mindoro lost despite Gamalinda's 30 points, nine rebounds and two assists, and JC Recto's 15 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Binan controlled the boards 50-43 and exploited it to score more points in the paint, 58-24.
The North Division quarterfinal playoffs resume Tuesday at the Caloocan Sports Complex, with games pitting San Juan and Bataan at 5 p.m., and Caloocan and Ilagan Isabela at 7 p.m.
Having won the series openers, the San Juan Knights and the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo need only to repeat to qualify for the North semifinals. (Pool story)
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