MPBL: Quezon pummels Basilan to remain in South top seed hunt

Judel Fuentes led Quezon's breakaway from Basilan. LA Arcin

By Dugout Philippines

BIÑAN—The Quezon Huskers battered the Basilan Steel 97-76 on Thursday to remain in line for the top playoff slot in the South division of the SportsPlus MPBL 2026 Season at the Alonte Sports Arena.

Ahead 56-50, the Huskers, behind Judel Fuentes, clustered 14 points to pull away 70-50 with 2 minutes and 37 seconds left in the third quarter.

Fuentes continued his sniping in the fourth quarter, pushing the Huskers farther away 87-59 en route to their 18th win in 22 starts in the round-robin, elimination phase of the two-division, 26-team tournament.

The Huskers, kings of the South for the past two years, trail Binan Tatak Gel (20-4) but are ahead of the Batangas City Tanduay Athletics (17-5) and the Gensan Warriors in the race for the top-four finishers that carry the home-court advantage in the quarterfinal playoffs.

Fuentes finished with 29 points, spiked with seven triples, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals to capture the SportsPlus best player honors over Jason Opiso, with 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, and Penaredondo, with 11 points and 3 rebounds, and Michael Canete, with 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Hardly missing injured starting center Cedrick Manzano, the Huskers dominated both boards and, 52-35, exploited this to outscore the Steel, 50-26, in the paint.

Basilan, which fell to 12-12, drew 20 points and 8 rebounds from team captain John Wilson, 11 points and 4 rebounds from Mark Montuano, and 10 points and 2 steals from veteran JV Casio.

The Steel are assured of a stint in the play-in among teams ranked seventh to 10th in both divisions after the eliminations.

The Huskers bundled six points, four by Joseph Penaredondo, to surge ahead at the half, 48-36.