Zamboanga SiKat leaned on Levi Hernandez’s clutch three-pointer in the closing seconds to stun reigning back-to-back South Division champion Quezon Province, 67-64, and force a deciding Game 3 in their MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season quarterfinal series on Wednesday.
Hernandez, who played for the Batangas City Tanduay Athletics until last year, calmly sank a corner triple with 26.3 seconds remaining to put Zamboanga ahead after the Huskers had taken a 64-62 lead with a 10-point run capped by another three-pointer from Hernandez.
Quezon’s Diego Dario attempted to answer with a drive to the basket but missed a layup with 5.5 seconds left, allowing Zamboanga’s John Mahari to secure the rebound.
Brandon Wilson was fouled on the ensuing possession and converted both free throws with 3.3 seconds remaining to seal the victory for SiKat.
(C) MPBL
“From start to finish, walang sumuko (sa amin),” said Hernandez, adding that the coaching staff urged the team to forget its lopsided 88-55 loss to the Huskers in Game 1 on Oct. 7 at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
The deciding Game 3 will also be held in Lucena City on Saturday.
Zamboanga homegrown Forthsky Padrigao posted 15 points, seven assists and four rebounds to earn Best Player honors over Paeng Are, who finished with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Wilson added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Hernandez chipped in 11 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Quezon drew 12 points from Jason Opiso and 11 points and five rebounds from Christian Pagaran. MPBL All-Star Judel Fuentes, meanwhile, was held to eight points, converting just two of his 10 attempts from beyond the arc.
(C) MPBL
Meanwhile, Cebu leaned on Limuel Tampus’ fourth-quarter explosion to stun Batangas City, 70-67, and advance to the South Division semifinals of the MPBL 2026 Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Tampus, a 6-foot-2 high-flyer from the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, scored 12 of his 14 points in the final period to power the fifth-seeded Cebu Greats to their second straight victory over the fourth-seeded Tanduay Athletics in their best-of-three quarterfinal series.
With Batangas City ahead, 61-58, Cebu unleashed a decisive nine-point run, with Tampus scoring five and Dhon Reverente adding four, to seize a 67-61 lead with 14.2 seconds remaining.
Rhinwill Yambing knocked down a three-pointer for Batangas City with 11 seconds left, but Ron Dennison converted two free throws to help Cebu preserve its lead and secure the victory.
Tampus also grabbed six rebounds, including a crucial follow-up off his own miss with 36.2 seconds remaining. His late-game heroics earned him Best Player honors over Mark Meneses, who recorded 10 points, 16 rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
Ichie Altamirano contributed 10 points, three rebounds and three assists before fouling out in the closing minutes, while Wowie Escosio added 11 points for the Greats, who took Game 1 in a thrilling 78-77 decision.
Batangas City, the inaugural MPBL champion in 2018 and a participant in eight consecutive playoff campaigns, received 14 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocks from Ced Ablaza; 15 points, four assists, two steals and two blocks from Ino Comboy; and 14 points, four rebounds and two steals from Yambing.
“After so many struggles since the start of the season, we made it this far,” said Cebu Greats team owner Sam Lato, who also declared, “Walang bitawan ito.”
The Greats surpassed their quarterfinal finish in the 2019 MPBL season and will now await the winner of the series between top-seeded Quezon Province and eighth-seeded Zamboanga SiKat for their South Division semifinal opponent.
Meanwhile, the North Division playoffs resume Thursday at the Meycauayan Sports Complex, with Abra Solid North taking on Quezon City at 5 p.m. before Pasay battles Meycauayan Marilao at 7 p.m.
The Abra Weavers and Pasay Voyagers won their respective series openers and will look to repeat those performances to secure semifinal berths.
