BATANGAS, Philippines – At the Batangas City Coliseum on Friday in the quarterfinal round of the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme, Batangas Embassy Chill defeated Bacoor, 69 to 55, and Rizal Xentro Mall defeated Sarangani OKBet, 73 to 45.

With only 51.9 seconds remaining and a 10-point lead, the Athletics won the grueling contest 67 to 49.

In contrast, the Golden Coolers limited the Sarangani Marlins to three points in the second quarter and went on to win the game 71 to 38, pulling off the biggest upset of the playoffs so far.

If their respective best-of-three series are won by a second time on October 28 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, Batangas, the 2018 Anta Rajah Cup’s first champion of the MPBL, and the significantly improved Rizal would be eliminated.

With 19 points and seven rebounds, Juneric Baloria led the Batangas offensive. Rudy Lingganay had 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Jeckster Apinan and Jeckster Baloria were next.

With a game-high 15 rebounds, five points, three assists, and three steals, MPBL All-Star Cedric Ablaza also contributed to Batangas Coach Cholo Villanueva’s success.

RJ Ramirez and Mark Montuano each scored nine points for Bacoor, who also had support from Mark Pangilinan’s 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Rizal-Sarangani matchup ended up being a one-sided contest, with the Golden Coolers leading 37 to 19 at the half, in contrast to the competitive Batangas-Bacoor matchup.

The Marlins misfired from a distance the entire game, making only 1-of-30 triple attempts as snipers Kyt Jimenez failed to convert on eight and seven efforts, respectively. The Golden Coolers, who were strong on offense and defense, blasted the Marlins.

Jolo Mendoza, who had 17 points, nine rebounds, and three assists, was Rizal’s top scorer. Keanu Caballero came in second with 11 points, five assists, and four rebounds, and Alvin Capobres finished third with 10 points and six rebounds.

The Golden Coolers dominated the boards, 66 to 38, thanks to gang rebounding, and they added 34 points in the paint as a result.

Jonjon Gabriel’s 11 points are the highest total for Sarangani, with Jimenez limited to three and Sanga to just two.

The Pampanga Giant Lanterns and the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards are vying for semifinal spots in the MPBL when it travels to San Fernando, Pampanga’s Bren Guiao Convention Center.