In the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), Muntinlupa dominated Quezon City Gaz N Go 76-43 on Thursday at the Bren Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga, to win its fifth game in a row and take the lead by itself.

The Muntinlupa Cagers, showcasing the depth of their bench, broke free from a 17-all tie in the first quarter to take the half, 37-22, and then increased their lead to as much as 76-40 on their way to victory and the top spot in the 29-team tournament.

With 11 points each, Ian Melencio and Manuel Mosqueda led the balanced Muntinlupa attack and were chosen the game’s best players. John Delos Santos and Biboy Enguio, who each scored 10 and 8 points, backed them up.

Coach Jack Escueta had the luxury of deploying all 15 members of his squad because the Cagers were in command, and only one of them failed to score.

Meanwhile, Quezon City unveiled new hire Andrei Duremdes, who displayed flashes of the genius of his father, MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes, the all-time great and 1998 PBA MVP.

The 6-foot-4 Andrei, a De La Salle graduate in organizational communications, led the team in scoring with 10 points, pulled down six rebounds, and blocked a shot for Quezon City, which dropped its fourth game in a row following an opening triumph.

Muntinlupa defeated Quezon City by a score of 55-35 in the paint thanks to 6-foot-8 Kemark Carino’s 8 rebounds. Quezon City was plagued by a dismal 2 of 22 shooting from the field.