Home team Marikina turned to Nemesis dela Cruz and Raymond Casajeros who sparked the team’s sizzling start as the Shoemasters kept Bulacan winless with a 100-90 win in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2025 Season at the Marikina Sports Center late Friday night.
Dela Cruz scored 19 of his 25 points in the first half to set the tone for the Shoemasters while Casajeros pumped in 10 of his 16 at the start of the period as Marikina picked up its second win in 12 games.
For the 13th time, Bulacan remained unlucky and continued as the only team which has yet to notch a victory.
Cebu subdued Mindoro, 85-73, as Lumiel Tampus finished with a double-double performance of 19 points and 12 rebounds.
The athletic guard also added three triples, proving that he is more than just an exciting player on the open court.
Earlier, Imus defeated Manila in a high-scoring affair, 122-111, as homegrown player Eroll Soriano and Jayjay Caspe conspired in the Braderhood’s breakaway.
It was the sixth win in as many games for the Braderhood.
Soriano posted 25 points and 13 rebounds, while Caspe tallied 23 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals as the Braderhood’s dynamic duo proved to be too much to handle.
Another player who posted a double-double game for Imus was Kint Ariar, who delivered 11 points and 15 rebounds to go along with five assists and three blocks as he terrorized his opponents inside.
Veteran Mark Doligon tallied 16 points, six assists and three rebounds while Regie Boy Basibas chipped in 13 point and eight rebounds in a well-distributed production for Imus.
Manila tasted its 10th straight loss after an initial win despite John Ashley Faa’s triple-double performance of 24 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists to go along with four steals.
