DAVAO Occidental won by 64 points, Pampanga by 35, and Binan by 19.

Routs marked the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

The returning Davao Occidental Tigers mauled the Imus Agimat VA Drones, 132-68; the reigning national champion Pampanga Giant Lanterns buried the Bicolandia Oragons, 128-93; while Binan Tatak Gel Beast Motorcycle GameX routed Quezon City TODA Aksyon, 72-53.

Biñan notched its second straight win in as many starts, Pampanga raised its record to 3-1, while Davao climbed to 2-1 in the round-robin qualifying phase of the 29-team tournament.

James Martinez and Biboy Enguio fired 22 points each for the Tigers, who posted this year’s biggest spread thus far at the final buzzer.

Other Tigers who delivered were Dariel Bayla with 17 points, Kenneth Ighalo with 14 and Kurt Lojera with 12.

Imus absorbed its fourth straight defeat despite the 34-point explosion of John Rey Sumido.

The Agimat also got 11 points from Kenneth Estabillo and 10 from Christian Luengco.

The Giant Lanterns, who fielded reigning MVP Justine Baltazar for the first time this year, led by as far as 126-90 behind the 26 points of homegrown MJ Garcia, the 16 points of Encho Serrano, the 15 of Kurt Reyson, the 13 of Jhaymo Eguilos and the 11 of Miguel Ives Corteza.

The 6-8 Baltazar settled for 8 points, highlighted by two slam dunks, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in 15 minutes and 20 seconds of play.

Bicolandia, which hogged the cellar at 0-5, got 19 points from Shaquille Alanes, 15 from Chris Javier and 14 each from Ralph Deles and Marvin Lee.

Biñan zoomed ahead, 55-25, through the efforts of high-flyer Poypoy Actub and Pamboy Raymundo, who scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Quezon City leveled its slate at 2-2 as only Rafael Are could submit twin digits with 11.

Meanwhile, the MPBL has a forged a new partnership with GameX Sports for the 2024 season.

League founder and chairman Sen. Manny Pacquiao signed the deal together with GameX Sports president Maria Lorelie Urcia.

Gracing the signing ceremony were league commissioner Kenneth Duremdes, league CEO Joe Ramos, legal counsel Atty. Glenn Francis Gacal, as well as GameX Sports representatives legal counsel Atty. Jarwyn Gabana, IT head Gino Rafael Dimaano, marketing head Sharmaine Abarquez, and operations head Rina Gallardo.

The scores:

First game

Pampanga (128) — Garcia 26, Serrano 16, Reyson 15, Eguilos 13, Corteza 11, Baltazar 8, Viernes 8, Conception 7, Binuya 7, Gozum 6, Liwag 6, R.Santos 3, Gob 2, K.Santos 0, Alcoriza 0.
Bicol (93) — Alanes 19, Javier 15, Deles 14, Lee 14, Yu 9, Rojas 8, Santos 5, Casajeros 3, Reyes 2, Burgos 2, Lao 2, Go 0, Llarena 0, Gallego 0, Macaballug 0..
Quarterscores: 25-20, 59-39, 91-64, 128-93.

Second game

Davao (132) — Martinez 22, Enguio 22, Bayla 17, Ighalo 14, Lojera 12, Mancao 9, Olayon 7, Arana 7, Sarangay 5, Andrada 5, Koga 5, Manzo 4, Tumalip 3, Nabong 0.
Imus (68) — Sumido 34, Estabillo 11, Luengo 10, Kadir 5, Punzalan 3, Aniban 2, Steinl 2, Nacino 1, Gimpayam 0, Tapenio 0, Enriquez 0, Camacho 0, Popovic 0, Malimban 0, Gonzales 0.
Quarterscores: 30-13, 70-34, 100-50, 132-68.

Third game

Biñan (72) — Actub 11, Raymundo 10, Rocacurva 9, Manalang 8, Pido 8, Estrada 7, Penaredondo 6, Alabanza 6, Gimpayan 4, Maestre 2, Canaleta 1, Anonuevo 0, Mangahas 0, Baetiong 0, Alonte 0,
Quezon City (53) — R. Are 11, Tibayan 9, Yambing 7, Mag-isa 7, Cauilan 6, Gesalem 5, Sawat 3, Roman 2, Ballesteros 2, Bienes 1, M.Are 0, Cosari 0, Mosqueda 0, Nimes 0, Tauto-An 0,
Quarterscores: 16-16, 39-21, 57-33, 72-53.