BACOOR CITY – Discovery-Rizal secured back-to-back victories after holding off Tagaytay-Tol, 80-60, in the 2025 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League regular season presented by Akari, Sunday at Strike Gym here.
Perlas built a solid lead in the first half before withstanding a late surge from the Patriots early in the fourth quarter to improve to 2-2 in the tournament backed by Uratex, Black Mamba, Red Dynasty, Aktive Balls, and Pocari Sweat.
“Well, again, we made an easy game a hard game for us,” said Discovery-Rizal head coach Derrick Pumaren. “We did not take care of the basketball. We made them come back. We simply ran away from what we’re supposed to do out there.
“System-wise, lumayo kami sa sistema namin. That’s why nakahabol. Fortunately, naka-recover kami. We were able to play defense,” he added.
(C) WMPBL
After a tightly contested opening quarter, Perlas shifted into high gear on both ends, overwhelming Tagaytay-Tol with a 29-8 blitz in the second period — led by Raiza Palmera-Dy and Allana Lim — to build a 44-24 cushion at halftime.
Discovery-Rizal kept pouring it on in the second half, extending their lead to as many as 28 points, 63-35, after a Lim triple with 1:54 remaining in the third quarter.
But just as it seemed all hope was lost, Claudine Santos, Khat Cantimbuhan, and Angel Quingco combined their efforts. The Patriots unleashed a massive 16-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to cut the deficit to just 12 points, 51-63, with 8:22 left in the game.
Perlas, however, regained control with back-to-back baskets from LJ Candelario and Palmera-Dy, doing just enough to secure their second straight win of the tournament.
Three players from Discovery-Rizal recorded double-doubles, led by Tantoy Ferrer’s 23 points and 15 rebounds, along with six assists and two steals.
Lim added 22 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds off the bench, while Palmera-Dy chipped in 17 points and 11 boards, complemented by four assists and three steals in the victory.
Perlas will face a tough test next, taking on league-leading San Juan — the only unbeaten team this season — at 6:00 PM on Sunday in Tagaytay to close the first round of the preliminaries.
(C) WMPBL
On the other hand, Tagaytay-Tol suffered its fourth straight loss to remain at the bottom of the standings with a 0-4 record. It will look to break through when it faces RK Hoops-Quezon City, also on Sunday at 8:00 PM.
Quingco paced the Patriots with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Bernice Paraiso added 10 points.
The Scores:
Discovery-Rizal 80 – Ferrer 23, Lim 22, Palmera-Dy 17, Anies 5, Tacatac 5, Candelario 4, Galicia 2, Sambile 2, Sison 0, Felisarta 0, Marcos 0
Tagaytay-Tol 60 – Quingco 14, Paraiso 10, Santos 8, Cantimbuhan 7, San Juan 7, Natural 4, Jimenez 4, Del Carmen 2, Pacia 2, Domingo 2, Harada 0
Quarterscores: 15-16, 44-24, 63-45, 80-60
