Pangasinan beats Ilagan, secures play-off spot in MPBL
THE Pangasinan Heatwaves have earned a play-off seat after outlasting the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys in the play-in tournament of the 7th Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), 98-91, last October 2, 2025 at the Robert Estrellla Sr. Memorial Gym in Rosales.
Heatwaves’ Jorey Napoles started strong in the first frame and pumped in nine points through his downhill attacks to establish an early lead, 28-19.
In the second period, Cowboys’ Arth Dela Cruz worked inside the painted area to register five points reinforced with the 4-point production of Joshua Guiab on his pull-up jumpers to threaten to take the lead. But despite these runs, Pangasinan asserted its three-point shooting arsenal courtesy of Allyn Bulanadi’s back-to-back triple to retain the advantage at the half, 45-38.
Heading to the third segment, the Ilagan Cowboys commenced its counterattack led by Allan Santos, Mark Dyke, and Guiab to synchronize with 15 points to seize the lead, 63-58.
Reeling-off the fourth quarter, Bong Galanza towed Pangasinan’s offense with 7 markers on his perimeter shots. At the 5-minute mark of the game, Bulanadi added five points for the Heatwaves to retake the lead, 71-70. Trailing behind by 2 points with 14 ticks left, Ilagan’s Agem Miranda drained a floater to knot the score at 82 apiece and forged an extension.
During the extra period, the Heatwaves went hot from beyond the arc, drilling 3 triples led by Hesed Gabo with two three-point conversions to breakaway for good.
Pangasinan relied on the collective effort of four Heatwaves tallying a double-digit scoring: Galanza gathered 23 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists; Jorey Napoles with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks; 15 points from Bulanadi plus the 14-point output of Gabo.
Over at Ilagan, Dela Cruz dialed in 21 points, 7 boards, and 8 assists alongside the 14-point contribution of Miranda.
The Heatwaves clinched the seventh spot of the Northern Division rankings, setting up a battle against the second-seeded Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in the first round of the MPBL play-offs slated on October 22. (Kim Gealogo)
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