The Pasay Voyagers snapped back into the win column with an 89-84 victory over the Bulacan Kuyas on Wednesday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Pasay Astrodome.
Trailing 77-75, the Voyagers unleashed an 11-2 run highlighted by five points from Steve Nash Enriquez and one triple each from Christian Fajarito and Rence Alcoriza to seize an 86-79 lead with 2:40 remaining.
Bulacan’s Airohn Acop completed a three-point play to trim the deficit, but Pasay sealed its 10th win against 10 losses in the round-robin elimination phase as Enriquez calmly knocked down three free throws in the closing seconds.
Alcoriza paced the Voyagers with 20 points, built on four three-pointers, along with three assists to earn Best Player honors over Fajarito, who posted 16 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
Enriquez added 11 points and four assists, while Lennard Santiago chipped in 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
The Kuyas, who dropped to 4-12, were led by Acop with 19 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Mart James Barrera contributed 13 points, four assists, and three rebounds, while William Sy Jr. finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
In the opener, Domark Matillano knocked down the game-winning jumper with 3.8 seconds left as the Parañaque Patriots edged the Negros Hacienderos, 95-94.
The 5-foot-11 guard from the Philippine Merchant Marine School capped Parañaque’s rally from a 57-38 deficit early in the third quarter, handing the Patriots just their second win against 18 losses.
Negros had one last chance to steal the victory, but Achie Inigo’s buzzer-beating three-pointer missed, dropping the Hacienderos to 1-14.
James Mangahas earned Best Player honors after tallying 20 points, including 12 in the third quarter, and six rebounds. He edged teammates Jomar Santos, who had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Matillano, who finished with 14 points, six assists, and four rebounds.
Also contributing for the Patriots were homegrown Paolo Castro with 13 points and two rebounds, Marlon Monte with 12 points, three rebounds, and two assists, and Ryusei Koga with nine points and nine rebounds.
Negros wasted Michael Alvarez’s 27-point, seven-rebound, two-assist performance and Reymar Caduyac’s 17 points, nine assists, and six rebounds.
In the second game, the Quezon City Black Bulls crushed the Manila Batang Quiapo, 122-68, to strengthen their playoff bid and improve to 8-9.
MJ Joson powered the Black Bulls with a triple-double of 18 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists, and two steals to claim Best Player honors over homegrown Kenz Rei Diokno, who scored 20 points with four assists, three rebounds, and three steals.
Clark Derige added 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists, Kobe Monje contributed 13 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Gab Salazar chipped in 11 points as Quezon City took control from the opening tip.
Manila, which slipped to 2-15, drew 12 points from John Matthew Sibug, 11 from Ivan Salinel, and 10 apiece from Jed Salaveria and Redgimir Eusebio.
The MPBL shifts to the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday, with Batangas facing Basilan at 5 p.m. before host Cebu takes on Biñan at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, Cebuano basketball greats who have left their mark on the local game will be honored by the MPBL on Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Leading the 21 honorees is four-time PBA Most Valuable Player Ramon Fernandez, who won a record 19 PBA championships and represented the Philippine national team multiple times. Each honoree will receive a plaque of recognition for their contributions to the sport.
Also set to be recognized are Bonel Balingit, Boy Cabahug, Peter Naron, Terry Albarillo, Bong Abad, Larry Villanil, Calvin Tuadles, Al Solis, Lowell Briones, Jojo Lim, Max Delantes, Willy Generalao, Titing Manalili Sr., Roger Yap, Junthy Valenzuela, Dondon Ampalayo, Manny Paner, Montoy Singson, Jojo Tangkay, and Reyns Yncierto.
MPBL Commissioner Emmer Oreta and Operations Head Zaldy Realubit said this is only the first batch of awardees, with more deserving Cebuano basketball figures set to be recognized in the future.
