 |
| With the Alonte Sports Arena already reserved for a Teachers' Day event, Biñan will play Game 1 of its MPBL Playoffs series against Mindoro on neutral grounds. MPBL (file photo) |
MANILA—Biñan had to give up hosting rights for Day 1 of the MPBL Playoffs because the Alonte Sports Arena is unavailable on Friday night.
A person knowledgeable about the situation confirmed to Dugout Philippines that the arena is already reserved for an event honoring the school teachers in Biñan as a culminating activity for National Teachers' Month in the city.
Eventually, the Tatak Gel agreed in principle with the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo to borrow the Caloocan Sports Complex for the Friday night showdown against the Mindoro Tamaraws.
Unless GenSan, the third seed in the South Division, finds either the Lagao Gymnasium or the Polomolok Gymnasium in South Cotabato unavailable and is forced to give Biñan, the second seed, the hosting rights for Game 2, the next chance for the Tatak Gel to play at home is if their series against Mindoro goes to a Game 3.
The Warriors will play the sixth-seeded Rizal Golden Coolers in another South Division quarterfinal affair.
If Biñan sweeps its best-of-three series against Mindoro, the next time the former will host a playoff game is in Game 2 of the South semifinals against whoever prevails between GenSan and Rizal.
Th source added that there was no clear reason why the Tatak Gel could not reserve the nearby Sta. Rosa City Multi-Purpose Sports Complex for the Friday night doubleheader.
The said arena, which has become a concert hub lately and was even used for some scenes in the GMA action drama Taskforce Firewall, last hosted a major basketball event on Sept. 27, 2024 during that year's PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Quezon City and Zamboanga completed the cast for the MPBL's Round of 16.
Quezon City first sealed their playoff spot by ripping Pasig 95-81 behind Ryan Costelo's stellar performance of 22 points on 7-for-9 shooting, including 3-for-4 on threes, three rebounds, and three assists.
Quezon City held Pasig to only 23 points in the first half and even led by as much as 30 points 70-40 in the third.
In the other game at the One Arena in Cainta, Zamboanga took down Basilan 83-59 behind a 51-point second-half blast.
Brandon Wilson put up 21 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting from inside the arc, 14 rebounds, one assist, four steals, and one block to lead the Sikat.
Entering the postseason as the ninth seeds, both Quezon City and Zamboanga completed the needed 2-0 sweep of the play-in games to advance to the playoffs.
The Black Bulls will face the defending champions Abra Weavers in the North Division quarterfinals, while the Sikat will battle the Quezon Huskers in the South quarterfinals.
