MINDORO showed newfound strength in a 79-65 stunner over Binan Tatak Gel in Wednesday’s nightcap and shared the spotlight with Abra Solid North and Quezon City in the 2026 MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Preseason Invitational at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
The Abra Weavers exploited their edge in height and heft to subdue the Bataan Risers, 81-69, in the opener and gain the solo lead in Group A of the 18-team event.
The debuting Quezon City Black Bulls nipped the Sarangani 10ACT Marlins, 78-74, in the second game.
Powered by homegrowns JC Recto, Jon Ivan Cudiamat and Jayjay Caspe, recruit Enzo Joson, and mainstays Marion Magat and RJ Ramirez, the Mindoro Tamaraws pulled away, 72-49, midway through the fourth quarter, before coasting to victory.
The 6-foot-4 Recto, a former Mapua Cardinal, posted 14 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal, followed by Magat with 11 points and 9 rebounds.
Cudiamat chalked up 8 points, while Caspe, Joson and Ramirez had 7 points each.
Binan drew 14 points and 3 rebounds from prized rookie Nic Cabanero, 11 points and 9 rebounds from acquisition Mike Mabulac, 6 points plus 10 rebounds from Kristan Hernandez, and 6 points, 3 steals and 2 rebounds from Jaymark Mallari.
The Tamaraws converted half of their field goal attempts, 33 of 55, which proved to be the big difference as the Lagunenses made only 24 of 77 tries for 31.2 percent.
Kenz Diokno keyed Quezon City’s win, sinking a triple and two charities in the last 1 minute and 32 seconds against a lay-up by Sarangani’s Kurth Mapua.
The 5-foot-10 Diokno finished with 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal to clinch best player honors over Clark Derige, with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Burly Germy Mahinay, given a reprieve from an indefinite suspension slapped on him by the league in 2024, supported Diokno and Derige with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 1 block, followed by Darrel Caraguian with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, and MJ Joson, who snagged 11 rebounds on top of 4 points, 5 assists, 5 steals and 1 block.
The Sarangani Marlins skidded to 0-2 despite Lars Sunga’s 20-point, 13-rebound, 4-assist, 3-steal effort.
Abra, fielding twin towers Drex Delos Reyes and Raven Gonzales together often, led by as far as 47-22 at the break.
With the 6-foot-8 Delos Reyes and the 6-foot-7 Gonzales piling the points and veteran acquisition Nico Elorde directing the plays, the Weavers broke free, 36-17, with 5 minutes and 51 seconds left in the second quarter.
Delos Reyes took best player honors with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 1 block, edging reigning MVP Dave Ildefonso with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. Gonzales compiled 10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists, and Harley Baldo had 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
Bataan, which fell to 0-2, got 14 points, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds from Robbi Darang, 9 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals from. Alfred Flores, and 8 points, plus 11 rebounds from Carl Bringas.
The Preseason moves to the Paco Arena in Manila with games pitting the Junior MPBL D-League selection against Muntinlupa at 3 p.m., Marikina against Quezon Province at 5 p.m., and Pasay against Ilagan Isabela at 7 p.m.
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