The Quezon Huskers and Cebu Greats took different routes to victory in the MPBL 2026 Season South Division quarterfinals on Wednesday at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
Showing why they are the reigning back-to-back South Division champions, the Huskers trounced Zamboanga, 88-55, in the nightcap, while Cebu leaned on Ron Dennison’s corner triple with 10.7 seconds remaining to edge Batangas City, 78-77, in the opener of their best-of-three series.
After a tight first quarter, Quezon poured in 23 points while holding Zamboanga to just six to pull away for good, taking a 41-23 lead into halftime.
Quezon and Cebu will shoot for another win and a spot in the semifinals on Wednesday, Oct. 14, when they face the same opponents at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Jolo Manansala led the Huskers with 15 points, six rebounds, and two assists to earn Player of the Game honors. Judel Fuentes added 10 points and two rebounds.
Christian Pagaran contributed nine points, while Cholo Anonuevo posted eight points, eight rebounds, four steals, and two assists. Joseph Penaredonodo also had eight points, three rebounds, and two assists.
Zamboanga drew 11 points each from Paeng Are, Levi Hernandez, and Brandon Wilson.
Batangas City failed to complete its comeback after Jeckster Apinan, left open following a well-executed inbound play, missed from point-blank range. In the ensuing scramble for the ball, Dennison was fouled with 2.9 seconds remaining.
The former Far Eastern University Tamaraw missed his first free throw and intentionally missed the second, leaving Batangas with no time to launch a desperation heave before the final buzzer.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Athletics, who had battled back from a 75-65 deficit with 3:28 remaining by scoring 12 straight points to take a 77-75 lead with 22 seconds left.
Jun Manzo celebrated his return to the Greats’ roster by scoring 21 points, including four triples, while adding three steals and two assists to earn Player of the Game honors. Mark Meneses chipped in 14 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists.
Dennison finished with 11 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals, while Dhon Reverente added 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists.
Batangas was led by Rhinwill Yambing, who scored 23 points, including five triples, and grabbed five rebounds. Ced Ablaza added 19 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists.
Batangas blitzed Cebu, 14-0, behind three straight triples from Yambing, but the Greats answered with a 22-2 run, capped by the final five points from Meneses, to take an 18-16 lead after the first quarter.
Cebu stretched its advantage to eight points at halftime, 44-36, but Batangas rallied to within 51-49 after an 11-point run, with Ablaza scoring the final eight points of the surge.
Manzo then drilled back-to-back triples, while Simon Camacho scored on a fastbreak to pad Cebu’s lead to 59-49. Ablaza and Kraniel Viloria responded with six straight points to close the gap heading into the fourth quarter.
The North Division playoffs resume on Friday at the Gov. Andres Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued, Abra, with Meycauayan Marilao facing Pasay at 5 p.m. and Quezon City taking on Abra Solid North at 7 p.m.
