Sarangani ACT10 finds itself in a precarious position in the heated race for the final play-in spot in the 2026 MPBL season.
With only three games left on its schedule, the Marlins sit at 4-19 — one full game behind the Imus Yangkee, who have six games remaining in the South Division.
That leaves Sarangani with little room for error as the race enters its final stretch.
Marlins captain Migs Pascual admitted there are plenty of regrets surrounding their campaign, particularly the games that slipped away.
“Of course, there are a lot of regrets. A lot of games that we should have won. But it is what it is. We just have to stay focused on these three games, give everything we have, and leave the rest to fate,” Pascual said.
Sarangani is coming off a 113-92 victory over Manila, but the Marlins face a difficult closing stretch. Their next assignment could very well determine the direction of their season.
Sarangani will face Imus on August 18, putting the two teams battling for the final play-in berth directly against each other.
Pascual knows the importance of the matchup.
“That game is very important for us because Imus is the team ahead of us right now. We have to treat it like a must-win game. We have to come in prepared, play with a lot of energy, and make sure we execute what we need to do,” he said.
Pascual has been putting together an all-around campaign for the Marlins, contributing across the stat sheet while carrying a significant leadership role for the team.
With their season hanging in the balance, however, he knows his responsibility extends beyond what he does once the ball is tipped.
“I know I have to do more, not just during the game but also in our preparation. I have to make sure that I’m ready, that my teammates are ready, and that we’re all on the same page. At this point, everything we do matters,” Pascual said.
With three games remaining and the play-in race still within reach, Sarangani can only control what happens on the court.
“We don’t want to look too far ahead — we just have to take it one game at a time and give everything we have. We know what’s at stake, so we’re going to prepare as hard as we can and leave everything on the floor. Whatever happens after that, we’ll accept it,” Pascual said.
