By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Quezon Huskers clobbered Bacolod Masskara, 113-61, to move closer to the SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2026 Season pacesetters at the Ynares Center Montalban in Rizal province on Tuesday, May 12.
Flaunting depth and power, the Huskers led throughout and surged beyond reach after three quarters, 97-44.
The reigning South Division champions continued the pounding to notch their fourth straight win in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.
All 15 Huskers fielded scored as they trailed only the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo and the Gensan Warriors, both with 6-0 records, in the standings.
Joseph Penaredondo pumped in 15 points from five triples to clinch the SportsPlus best player honors over Cedric Manzano, with 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
Other Huskers who delivered were Michael Canete, with 11 points, five assists and four rebounds, and Joshua Yerro, with 11 points and two assists.
Bacolod tumbled to 1-6 as only Kurt Abram Lactaotao struck back with 22 points and six rebounds.
The Marikina Shoemasters turned hot in the second half and routed the Negros Hacienderos, 96-75, in the second game to improve to 3-4.
Led by Louie Vigil, the Shoemasters detonated a 13-3 bomb to break free after three quarters, 52-44.
They then bundled 10 points in the fourth quarter to post their biggest spread, 94-69, with one minute and 40 seconds left.
Vigil, who posted 23 points, five rebounds and five assists, got support from Ace Russell Tiamzon, with 13 points, three rebounds and three assists; Deo Timajo, with 12 points, three rebounds and three assists; Jeff Javillonar, with 12 points and six assists; Jonathan Medina, with 10 points and seven assists; and Lander Canon, with three points and 12 rebounds.
Negros absorbed its fifth straight defeat despite Jan Formento’s 18 points and five assists; Adven Diputado’s 17 points, six rebounds and three steals; and Carl Joshua Alattica’s 15 points, 10 rebounds and three assists./ASC, WDJ