Pasay Voyagers Secure Ninth Straight Win with Solid Team Effort in MPBL

The Pasay Voyagers maintained their strong momentum in the Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season with a 95-89 victory over the Marikina Shoemasters on Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. Six Pasay players reached double figures, contributing to their ninth consecutive win and boosting their North Division record to 19-8.

Despite Marikina's impressive rally effort to close a 20-point deficit (21-41), the Voyagers held firm. Key performers Christian Fajarito, Marc Daniel Sangco, and Jasper Salenga each scored 14 points. Jopet Soriano and Damian Lasco added 12 points apiece, while Cyrus Tabi recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists, along with six rebounds and three steals.

The Voyagers sealed their triumph by scoring nine straight points late in the game, including the last five from Lasco, pushing the lead to 87-72 with under four minutes remaining before Marikina mounted a final surge.

For Marikina, Do Timajo led with 23 points and six rebounds, supported by Jethro Escoto’s 13 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, and Jacob Ubaldo’s 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. However, their 4-23 record remains one of the poorest in the league.

In the South Division clash, Rizal Xentromall edged out the Muntinlupa Cagers, 89-84. Although Muntinlupa briefly held a one-point advantage late in the game, Rizal rallied with six unanswered points from Eric Camson, Marco Balagtas, and Robin Julian Nayve to secure the win, improving to 18-8.

Balagtas contributed 23 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, while Camson posted 18 points and 12 rebounds. Alwyn Alday added 15 points. Muntinlupa fell to 10-17 despite Kurt Lojera’s 19 points and notable support from Miguel Ives Corteza, Patrick Ramos, and Lloyd Cabeguin.

Sarangani also picked up a 103-89 victory against Paranaque, improving to 10-18. Charles Callano nearly achieved a triple-double with 20 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. Migs Pascual had a career-high 19 points alongside 11 assists, and King Destacamiento recorded 16 points and 19 rebounds. Despite Shaquille Alanes’s 22 points and nine assists, Paranaque remains at the bottom of the standings with a 1-26 record.

Looking ahead, the MPBL will continue at the Caloocan Sports Complex on Thursday with three scheduled matchups: Bulacan vs. Gensan at 4 p.m., Abra vs. San Juan at 6 p.m., and Caloocan vs. Ilagan Isabela at 8 p.m.

The top four teams in both divisions secure home-court advantage for the playoffs, with fifth and sixth place teams advancing automatically, while those placing seventh through tenth must participate in a play-in tournament.