MANILA – Basilan Viva Portmasters fell short of its comeback bid. It suffered a 74-68 defeat to the Batangas Tanduay Rum Masters in the 2025 MPBL Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Down 73-60 with over two minutes left, the Viva Portmasters got a three-pointer from Alex Cabagnot, a split free throw from Arwind Santos, and an inside hit from James Tempra to cut the deficit to 66-73.
The Rum Masters got a split free throw from Levi Hernandez to extend their advantage to 74-66 with 13 seconds left before the Viva Portmasters ended the match with another basket from Tempra.
“The team just could not find their rhythm (against Batangas). Time for us to regroup and prepare for our next match,” Viva Portmasters co-team owner Jackson Chua Jr. said.
Hernandez top-scored for Batangas with 16 points, including three outside baskets, while Mark Niel Cruz and Mark dela Virgen contributed 10 markers apiece as they improved to a 2-2 record.
Cabagnot paced the Viva Portmasters with 16 points, with two three-pointers, Emman Calo added 13 markers, while Santos posted a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. They fell to a 1-3 record.
Meanwhile, San Juan Knights-Go for Gold withstood a late run by Mindoro Tamaraws for a 77-72 victory over at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna. The Knights improved to a 2-0 record, while the Tamaraws fell to 1-4.
The Knights were ahead at 71-60 following a basket by Michael Calisaan with over three minutes left, but the Tamaraws connected back-to-back triples from Jonas Tibayan and Wendell Comboy III to cut the deficit to 66-71.
Calisaan stretched San Juan’s lead to 73-66 with an inside basket but Comboy knocked down another triple to pull Mindoro to within 69-73, but San Juan extended it to 75-69 with two free throws from Orlan Wamar Jr.
Comboy, however, connected another outside shot to trim the deficit to 72-75 with 43 seconds left, but an inside conversion from Dexter Maiquez with 16 seconds left sealed the win for San Juan.
Calisaan finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one block, Maiquez added 15 points, while John Galinato and Wamar contributed 14 and 11 markers, respectively, for San Juan./PN
BOX SCORE:
BATANGAS 74 – Hernandez 16, Cruz 10, Dela Virgen 10, Baloria 8, Ablaza 8, Isit 7, Apinan 6, Importante 4, Ochea 3, Arim 2, Porter 0, Paniamogan 0.
BASILAN 68 – Cabagnot 16, Calo 13, Santos 11, Concepcion 8, Navarro 7, Tempra 6, Publico 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Grimaldo 2, Caduyac 0, Viernes 0, Pasturan 0.
Quarterscores: 22-12, 37-31, 58-44, 74-68.
