Zamboanga SiKat and Quezon City won in runaway fashion on Wednesday to complete the quarterfinals cast of the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the One Arena Cainta in Rizal Province.
The Zamboanguenos warmed up in the second half to trounce Basilan Steel, 83-59, in the nightcap, duplicating the Quezon City Black Bulls’ 95-81 conquest of Pasig City in the opening game.
Zamboanga secured the South Division’s eighth and final playoff berth, while Quezon City claimed the North Division’s last slot.
Paeng Are scored five points to close the second quarter before Brandon Wilson, Jhon Calisay, and Reggz Gabat opened the third with an 11-3 run, allowing Zamboanga to break away and take a 68-44 lead.
Wilson led the way with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and four steals, while Gabat added 16 points and five rebounds.
Are contributed nine points and three assists, while homegrown guard Forthsky Padrigao chipped in nine points, seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
As the eighth seed, Zamboanga will face South Division top seed Quezon Province in a best-of-three quarterfinal series. Quezon City, meanwhile, will take on North Division top seed Abra Solid North in another best-of-three matchup.
Basilan bowed out of the competition despite 12 points from Byron Villarias and 11 from Marc Sangco.
In the opening game, Quezon City pulled away after the first quarter, 29-13, before holding Pasig to just two points in the final five minutes of the second period to take a commanding 47-23 lead at halftime.
The Black Bulls continued their rampage in the second half, building a lead as large as 30 points at 70-40 to return to the playoffs after a three-year absence.
Ryan Costelo paced Quezon City with 22 points, including three triples, along with three rebounds and three assists. MJ Joson added 17 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
Jessie Sumoda contributed 11 points and nine rebounds, while Kobe Monje had 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Costelo went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, while Clark Derige shot 2-of-3 and Joson 3-of-6 as the Black Bulls converted nine of 24 three-point attempts for 37.5 percent. Pasig, meanwhile, made just four of 24 attempts from deep for 16.7 percent.
Pasig exited the competition despite a strong showing from Warlo Batac, who finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. Jacob Galicia added 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Jerome Garcia scored 15 points and Michael Lambino had 10 points and five rebounds.
The quarterfinal playoffs begin Friday at the Caloocan Sports Complex, with Gensan taking on Rizal XentroMall at 5 p.m. and Mindoro facing Binan at 7 p.m.
