The Pangasinan Heatwaves started strong and overwhelmed the Bulacan Kuyas, 91-51, on Friday to claim the early lead in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.
Holding a commanding 45-20 advantage at halftime, the Heatwaves continued to push forward, led by Michael Mabulac, Michael DiGregorio, and local standout Kriss Kelly Gurtiza. With their efforts, the team secured its second consecutive victory in the 30-team tournament’s round-robin elimination phase.
Mabulac delivered an all-around performance with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists, earning him best player honors over DiGregorio, who contributed 12 points and 2 rebounds, and Gurtiza, who recorded 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals under the guidance of coach Jerson Cabiltes.
Vic Manuel showcased his strength with 11 points and 4 rebounds, while Jerald Bautista added 8 points and 5 rebounds as the Heatwaves sealed their biggest winning margin at the final buzzer.
On the other hand, the Kuyas relied on RR De Leon’s 17 points and 8 rebounds, along with Jebb Bulawan’s 13 points and 8 rebounds. However, they struggled in rebounding, getting outworked 39-55.
Exploiting their dominance inside the paint, the Heatwaves scored 52 points compared to the Kuyas’ 28. They also capitalized on turnovers, converting 23 points from opponent errors while limiting the Kuyas to just 7.
The MPBL action continues on Saturday at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City, featuring matchups between Quezon City and Valenzuela at 4 p.m., Manila and Rizal at 6 p.m., and Nueva Ecija against Basilan at 8 p.m.
