Valenzuela City Darkhorse defeated Manila Batang Quiapo 108-98 at the Paco Arena, marking their third consecutive win in the SportsPlus MPBL 2026 Season.
The Darkhorses dominated early, leading by as much as 34-13, with six players scoring in double figures.
Shaquille Alanes, a former Lyceum Pirates standout, led the charge with 29 points, earning him the best player award and a spot in the MPBL 1,000-point club.
Veterans Jay Collado and Lester Reyes contributed significantly, scoring 14 points each, while Geremy Robinson, Nico Mamaradlo, and JR Olegario each added 11 points.
Valenzuela's strong inside game was evident, outscoring Manila in the paint 65-47.
Despite Manila's Joe Gomez De Liano scoring 27 points, the team fell to a disappointing 1-4 record.
In the second game, Ilagan Isabela overcame Zamboanga Sikat with a score of 81-77, improving their record to 4-1.
Arth Dela Cruz led Ilagan with 20 points and was named the best player of the game.
Zamboanga made a late push, narrowing the score to 75-77, but Joshua Guiab sealed the win with four free throws in the closing seconds.
In the opening match, Bulacan Kuyas triumphed over Sarangani 80-76, halting their three-game losing streak.
Gabriel Espinosa was the standout player, scoring 20 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
The MPBL continues with matches on Wednesday, featuring teams like Binan and Batangas, and Meycauayan against Negros.