The Mindoro Tamaraws bested the Gensan Warriors, 76-72, on Monday to rev up their drive in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Bambam Gamalinda, Wendelino Comboy and Joseph Sedurifa held the fort for the Tamaraws, who raised their record to 13-10, just behind the 13-9 slate of their victims in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
An unfortunate incident marred the otherwise thrilling game with 7 minutes and 33 seconds left and GenSan ahead, 41-39.
Gensan’s Michole Sorela got ejected for a disqualifying foul when he hit Mindoro’s Jonas Tibayan on the chin with his right hand.
Tibayan remained on the floor for a few minutes and was stretchered out, with the court medics assessing a concussion, bloody jaw, loss of a tooth, and broken left lip. He was brought to St. Patrick Hospital, where he was also evaluated with a fractured left shoulder as a result of the hard fall.
Apart from the automatic one-game suspension, Sorela stands to face stiffer sanctions as the MPBL technical committee, Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes, and the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) will review footage of the incident.
Pola Mayor Ina Raymundo, team owner of the Mindoro Tamaraws, said Tibayan will later be transferred to a hospital in Manila for further diagnosis and examination.
Gamalinda wound up with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists, Comboy finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, and Sedurifa chalked up 12 points and 7 rebounds.
GenSan drew 21 points and 10 rebounds from Kyle Tolentino, 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals from Chris Masagland, and 12 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists from Anthony Bringas.
Sarangani banked on its proficiency from the free throw line to subdue Muntinlupa, 72-68, in the opener and stay in contention with a 9-13 slate.
Kyt Jimenez, Jeff Viernes and Danny Marilao made two free throws each in the last 44 seconds as the Sarangani Grippers overcame the 11-point output of both Dom Matillano and Kurt Lojera and pulled down the Cagers to 10-11, the same as the Basilan Starhorse Portmasters.
The game was tight throughout, with 15 lead changes and six deadlocks, and neither team led by more than 7 points.
Jimenez posted 18 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals; Larce Sunga 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Marilao 11 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. Viernes contributed 8 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds.
Muntinlupa drew 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists from Ives Corteza; 15 points, 23 steals, 2, rebounds and 2 assists from Kurt Lojera; 7 points and 12 rebounds from Ladis Lepalam, and 7 points and 11 rebounds from Mark Sarangay.
The MPBL goes to the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City on Tuesday, with games pitting Cebu against Pasig at 4 p.m., Pangasinan against
Zamboanga at 6 p.m., and Binan against Nueva Ecija at 8 p.m.
