Nic Cabanero starred as Binan Tatak Gel bounced back with a dominant 100-75 victory over Mindoro on Monday in the MPBL 2026 Season at the Paco Arena in Manila.
The former University of Santo Tomas standout posted a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Kenny Roger Rocacurva added 19 points and nine rebounds as Binan improved to 4-3.
Pamboy Raymundo chipped in 13 points and two steals, Michael Mabulac contributed 12 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists, while Marc Pingris finished with 12 points and five rebounds.
Mindoro, which dropped to 2-4, was led by JJ Caspe with 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Bambam Gamalinda added 14 points, while Fil-Am Ashon Andrews had 13 points and four rebounds.
Later, Batangas City Tanduay exploded with a huge second-quarter run to rout Paranaque, 91-53.
Ino Comboy sparked the decisive surge, scoring 11 points on a jumper and three consecutive triples, while Rhinwill Yambing added five points as Batangas stretched the lead to 41-14 with 3:48 remaining in the second quarter.
Redeeming himself after his costly goal-tending violation in Batangas’ 84-83 loss to Cebu on April 22, Yambing finished with 25 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Jhan Nermal added 16 points and seven rebounds, while Comboy chipped in 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
Only Domark Matillano scored in double figures for Paranaque with 17 points and five rebounds as the Patriots absorbed their seventh straight defeat.
Batangas improved to 5-2, trailing only Caloocan (6-0), Gensan (6-0), Quezon Province (3-0), San Juan (4-1), and Abra (3-1) in the standings of the 28-team tournament.
In the opener, Basilan leaned on veteran John Wilson to beat Bulacan, 86-78.
Showing flashes of the form that earned him the 2019 MVP award, Wilson tallied 21 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, along with 11 rebounds, five assists, and two steals as Basilan improved to 4-3.
Jervy Cruz backed him up with 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Miles Canal added eight points and six rebounds.
Bulacan threatened after trimming the deficit to 73-70 behind Andrei Acop and Mart James Barrera, but Basilan answered with an 11-3 run to pull away for good at 84-73.
Acop finished with 23 points, six assists, three rebounds, and two steals, while Benedict Benedictos had 16 points and five rebounds. Eugene Gonzales chipped in 12 points and six rebounds.
Basilan controlled the game early, taking a 45-36 halftime lead behind 10 points from Cruz and nine from Wilson, and never looked back.
The MPBL continues on Tuesday at the Ynares Center with games between Marikina and Negros at 4 p.m., Bacolod and Quezon Province at 6 p.m., and Bataan and Pasig at 8 p.m.
