RIZAL Xentromall banked on Alwyn Alday to subdue also-ran Imus, 103-92, and boost its playoff bid in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

Nueva Ecija battered Sarangani, 117-80, and Binan Tatak Gel dumped Iloilo, 97-67, in the other games of the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 29-team tournament.

Alday tallied a career-high and MPBL season-high 43 points, spiked by 7 triples, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals to earn the Daily Fantasy best player honors and power the Rizal Golden Coolers to a 14-win, 12-loss record, good for the No. 8 spot in the North Division.

No other Golden Cooler scored in double figures with Jeric Serrano and John Winfred Gob contributing 8 points each.

Imus, which tumbled to 1-24, got 36 points, spiced by 10 triples, 7 rebounds and 3 assists from Jameson Hiro and 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals from Nemesis Dela Cruz.

Rizal is disputing the eighth and last playoff seat inn the North with Quezon City and Valenzuela, both with 12-13 slates.

Newcomer Abra (15-9) and Caloocan (14-9) are virtually assured of advancing to the North playoffs with early qualifiers and overall leaders San Juan (24-1), Pampanga (25-2) and Nueva Ecija (22-3). Manila (17-8) and Pasay (17-9) have also secured their spots in the quarterfinal round.

Unlike Rizal, whose fate hangs in the balance, Binan is certain to make the top 4 in the South Division eliminations and gain the homecourt advantage in the 3-game quarterfinal round playoffs.

BiÑan leaned Jeric James Pido and four others to extend its win-run to seven and catch up with Batangas at 18-8 in the South Division being lorded over by Quezon Province (20-5) and Zamboanga Master Sardines (19-6).

Pido posted 15 points, Pamboy Raymundo 14, Jonathan Grey, Junjie Hallare and actor Ronnie Alonte with 11 each.

Iloilo fell to 8-17 despite Mark Nonoy’3 33-point effort.

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