Quezon routed Zamboanga, 99-85, on Saturday to advance to the South Division semifinals of the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
Powered by Joshua Yerro and Diego Dario, the Huskers led by as many as 24 points in securing the quarterfinal series, 2-1, and keeping their bid for a third straight South Division crown alive.
Yerro posted 22 points, including seven triples, along with four rebounds and two assists, while Dario added 18 points, highlighted by three triples, three assists, and two steals. Both players earned SportsPlus Best Player honors.
Other Huskers who delivered were Jolo Manansala, with 14 points, eight rebounds, and three assists; Jayson Opiso, with 10 points, six rebounds, and two assists; and Cyrus Tabi, who also finished with 10 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
Zamboanga drew 23 points and nine rebounds from Brandon Wilson, while Paeng Are and Levi Hernandez chipped in 18 points apiece.
Two free throws followed by a thunderous one-handed slam on the run by Cholo Anonuevo padded Quezon’s lead to 70-52 with 1:23 left in the third quarter.
Manansala then drilled a buzzer-beating triple from the corner to push the Huskers further ahead, 75-55, heading into the final period.
Playing small ball with 6-foot-2 Jayson Opiso manning the slot, Quezon extended its lead to 85-61 with less than six minutes remaining.
The top-seeded Huskers will next face the Cebu Greats in a best-of-three semifinal series.
Earlier, Quezon outscored the Zamboanguenos, 10-5, in the final 3:29 of the second quarter, with Cyrus Tabi and Jolo Manansala leading the charge to give the Huskers a 47-35 advantage at halftime.
Quezon trounced Zamboanga, 88-55, in Game 1, but the latter bounced back to snatch Game 2, 67-64, and force a do-or-die decider.
Meanwhile, the North Division playoffs continue on Monday, with the Meycauayan Marilao Gems and the Pasay Voyagers disputing the last semifinal berth at 6 p.m. at the Meycauayan Sports Complex.
Fourth-seeded Meycauayan Marilao defeated fifth-seeded Pasay, 57-53, on Thursday to avenge its 66-64 overtime loss in the series opener and force a winner-take-all Game 3.
The winner between the Gems and the Voyagers will face top-seeded Abra Solid North Weavers in the division semifinals.
