MANILA - The pairings for the quarterfinals of the Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Invitational have been formalized following the conclusion of the elimination round on Monday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. Pasig, Nueva Ecija, and Basilan swept their respective groups, while Imus scored a huge win on the final day of the group stages and got some help from an also-ran squad to also seal one of the top seeds in the knockout stages. Bandera opened the day with a 90-79 rout of the Rizal Crusaders in the lone morning action. Jhaymo Eguilos led Imus, which gradually pulled away from Rizal in the middle two quarters, with 18 points, eight rebounds, and two assists off the bench. Adi Santos added 17 markers, 10 boards, one dime, and one block. In the next game, Bulacan played a spoiler role and eliminated Manila with a 98-89 shocker. James Martinez erupted for 31 points on 7-of-11 shooting alongside six rebounds and eight assists off the bench to lead the
MANILA - Magnolia and NLEX had contrasting wins on Wednesday night as the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) made its way back to its longtime home, the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The Hotshots reopened the fabled arena with a bang in the first game, tripping the Terrafirma Dyip, 114-87. Magnolia, playing for the first time since settling for a runner-up finish in the Philippine Cup in Bacolor, Pampanga, unleashed a huge offensive in the last three quarters to pull away from Terrafirma. Mike Harris announced his return to the PBA by leading the Hotshots with 30 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Calvin Abueva added 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 11 rebounds, and one block. Antonio Hester put up 21 markers, eight boards, one dime, and one swipe, while Juami Tiongson added 20 points and two assists for the Dyip, who fell to 1-2 in the Governors' Cup. Meanwhile, KJ McDaniels tore his former team apart with a 3
MANILA - Phoenix banked on a huge fourth-quarter rally to walk away with a 103-100 win over Terrafirma in the PBA Governors' Cup on Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. Despite squandering a hot start, the Fuel Masters finished strong and stole the win from the Dyip, who thought a solid second quarter would be enough. Phoenix sizzled early on and scored 30 points in the first quarter, but Terrafirma went on a 27-12 second quarter to enter halftime up by 10, 52-42. The Dyip swelled their lead to as high as 17, 67-50, with less than seven minutes left in the third, and appeared groomed to score a win for the first time with new combo guard Alex Cabagnot. However, the Fuel Masters unleashed a 23-4 run midway into the fourth quarter to retake the lead, 100-94, with 2:14 to go. Terrafirma still threatened to get the lead back after Juami Tiongson scored four straight points to cut the lead down to just two, 100-98, with 16 seconds left, but Paul Harris gave Phoenix some breathi
MANILA - Alaska hung on despite a late surge from NorthPort for an 87-85 win at the start of the PBA Governors' Cup on Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. Robbie Herndon helped save the day for the Aces after scoring on a mid-range jumper with 30.1 seconds left as the Aces won despite a late charge from new Batang Pier player Arwind Santos. Seemingly ahead by a comfortable 10-point margin, 79-69, with 5:41 left, Alaska found itself witnessing Santos' late show after he drained 12 straight points sparked by three straight triples that cut the lead down to two, 83-81, with exactly 100 seconds remaining. Herndon momentarily gave the team some breathing room after making a split from the free-throw line, but Greg Slaughter scored four consecutive points including a go-ahead tip-in with 39 seconds left that put NorthPort up, 85-84. Herndon then drove to the basket and drilled the turnaround jump shot that put the Aces back ahead, 86-85. Robert Bolick, with shot-clock wind
MANILA - Alaska hung on despite a late surge from NorthPort for an 87-85 win at the start of the PBA Governors' Cup on Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. Robbie Herndon helped save the day for the Aces after scoring on a mid-range jumper with 30.1 seconds left as the Aces won despite a late charge from new Batang Pier player Arwind Santos. Seemingly ahead by a comfortable 10-point margin, 79-69, with 5:41 left, Alaska found itself witnessing Santos' late show after he drained 12 straight points sparked by three straight triples that cut the lead down to two, 83-81, with exactly 100 seconds remaining. Herndon momentarily gave the team some breathing room after making a split from the free-throw line, but Greg Slaughter scored four consecutive points including a go-ahead tip-in with 39 seconds left that put NorthPort up, 85-84. Herndon then drove to the basket and drilled the turnaround jump shot that put the Aces back ahead, 86-85. Robert Bolick, with shot-clock wind