BATANGAS City Embassy Chill’s 111-63 drubbing of Quezon City Gaz N Go capped a rash of routs in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.

Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines set the tone of the day with a 92-62 crushing of Laguna Krah Asia followed by the Marikina Shoemasters’ 81-68 trouncing of Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc.

The Batangas Athletics, however, were more impressive in posting their fifth straight win and sharing the top spot with the idle Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, the Muntinlupa Cagers and the Quezon Huskers in the elimination round of the 29-team tournament.

Employing a tiring trapping defense while flaunting their firepower, the Athletics, behind Jeckster Apinan and Juneric Baloria, surged to a 95-47 bulge and kept the margin till the end.

Apinan wound up with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 7 steals, 4 assists and 1 block in just 20 minutes and 27 seconds of play to earn best player honors. He was supported by Baloria with 16 points and 5 boards.

Levi Hernandez also delivered for Batangas, the MPBL Anta Rajah Cup champion in 2018, with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and so did John Ambulodto with 12 points and 4 rebounds.

With Apinan at the helm, Batangas posted a pivotal 58-40 edge in rebounds as well as steals, 19-8, and handed Quezon City its fifth straight defeat after an initial victory.

Andrei Duremdes, son of MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes, scored 16 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, and grabbed 8 rebounds in a futile effort to narrow the gap somewhat.

Only Eduardo Doroteo provided support for the 6-foot-4 Duremdes, however, with 11 points plus 6 rebounds.

Drawing points from 14 players, Zamboanga sealed its fourth win against one loss early in the fourth quarter, 81-42, before going to cruise control.

Dexter Maiquez came through with 14 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Judel Fuentes and Ralph Tansico with 13 points each and Jayvee Marcelino with 12 as Zamboanga pulled down Laguna to 2-4.

Reigning MPBL MVP Jaycee Marcelino settled for 8 points with Chris Dumapig, who snagged 8 rebounds, as the Zamboanguenos showed the form that clinched the 2023 MPBL Preseason Invitationals crown.

Marikina, sparked by homegrown Letran Knight Kyle Tolentino, led from start to finish en route to a 3-2 record.

Tolentino fired 13 points, followed by Felipe Chavez and Marwin Dionisio with 10 each and Raymond Casajeros and Deo Timajo with 9 each as Marikina dealt Valenzuela its fifth straight defeat.

The MPBL goes to the Cuneta Astrodome on Thursday with a triple-bill pitting Rizal against GenSan at 4 p.m., Imus against Pampanga at 6 p.m. and Muntinlupa against Pasay at 8 p.m.