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| Regie Boy Basibas delivers for the Marikina Shoemasters. MPBL |
MANILA—The Marikina Shoemasters bested the Valenzuela City Darkhorse in the homestretch to prevail 88-83 on Wednesday in the SportsPlus MPBL 2026 Season at the One Arena Cainta in Rizal Province.
Valenzuela threatened at 83-84, but Marikina's Regie Boy Basibas responded with a short jumper, and Jethro Escoto pegged the final count with two free throws, only 5.7 seconds left.
Marikina chalked up its sixth win in 16 starts in the round-robin elimination phase, injecting fuel into its sputtering playoff bid in the two-division, 27-team tournament.
The 6-foot-4 Basibas, a former University of Santo Tomas Growling Tiger, wound up with 14 points, 14 rebounds and 3 assists, and was chosen the SportsPlus best player over Escoto, who posted 23 points, 15 in the third quarter, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds.
Jordan Sta. Ana supported with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, followed by Jason Strait and Alvin Pasaol with 8 points each.
Valenzuela fell to an even 8-8 slate despite Shaq Alanes' 22 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, CJ Alattica's 20 points and 3 rebounds, Angelo Obuyes' 13 points and 2 rebounds, and Ian Melencio's 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
Sarangani thwarts Negros
The Sarangani 10ACT Marlins leaned on Leland Estacio's hot hands in the second half to beat the Negros Hacienderos, 108-102, in the first game, snapping a 12-game slide and improving to 2-13.
Estacio poured in 23 points, 10 each in the third and fourth quarters, to help the Marlins snap a 12-game slide and improve to 2-13.
Counting his 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block, Estacio was named the best player over Carl Bryan Lacap, with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, and Ralph Tansingco, with 18 points and 6 rebounds.
Danny Marilao also delivered for Sarangani, which rallied from a 54-63 deficit in the third quarter, with 12 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists, followed by Lars Sunga, with 11 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals.
A triple by Tansingco with 1 minute and 6 seconds left shoved the Marlins ahead, 107-98, and sealed the Hacienderos' 12th loss in 13 starts.
Negros drew 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists from Reymar Caduyac, 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists from Lorenz Viajar, 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists from Michael Alvarez, 10 points, 6 assists, and 2 rebounds from Rev Diputado, and 10 points plus 5 rebounds from Jebb Bulawan.
The tournament returns to the Batangas City Coliseum on Thursday, featuring games between Binan and Bulacan at 4 p.m., Basilan and Zamboanga at 6 p.m., and Meycauayan Marilao and Batangas at 8 p.m.
