The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys survived a late Basilan surge to pull off a tense 57–56 victory, in a game defined by shifting momentum across all four quarters.
Ilagan came out sharper, taking a 16–13 edge in the first quarter behind early contributions from Arth De La Cruz and Don Gumaru. The Cowboys tightened their grip in the second period, holding Basilan to just 6 points while adding 9 of their own to build a 25–19 halftime lead.
But Basilan Steel refused to fade. Coming out of the break, Basilan found its rhythm offensively, erupting for 17 points in the third quarter to nearly erase the deficit. Gab Cometa ignited the rally with timely buckets, while Gelo Loristo controlled the glass. By the end of the third, Ilagan’s lead had been trimmed to a single possession, 43–36.
The fourth quarter turned into a shootout. Basilan poured in 20 points, their highest output of any period, as John Wilson and Cometa tried to carry them over the line. Ilagan, however, did just enough—scoring 14 in the final frame—to keep the game within reach heading into the closing seconds. That’s when the drama peaked.
With under a minute to play, veteran guard Alex Cabagnot sank two crucial free throws to give Ilagan a 57–56 advantage. On the next possession, Don Gumaru delivered the defensive play of the game, blocking Wilson’s layup attempt. Though Gumaru missed both free throws after being fouled, Basilan still had one last chance. It all came down to Wilson—but his potential game-winner would not fall.
De La Cruz stood out as the game’s best performer, finishing with 18 points and 14 rebounds, controlling the interior throughout. Ilagan also leaned on balanced support from Cabagnot and Jayboy Solis, who added 9 points each. Basilan, despite the loss, showed resilience behind Cometa’s 15 points and Wilson’s 11, but their cold second quarter ultimately proved costly. With the result, both teams now sit at 1–1, but Ilagan walks away with the confidence of closing out a tight contest.
Basilan Steel (56): Cometa 15, Wilson 11, Loristo 7, Cañal 5, Casio 4, Ramirez 3, Roño 3, Marcos 3, Cruz 3, Cantimbuhan 2, Bauzon 0, Grimaldo 0
Ilagan Isabela Cowboys (57): De La Cruz 18, Gumaru 9, Cabagnot 9, Solis 9, Cauilan 3, Paranada 3, Pingoy 2, Capacio 2, Rivero 2, Guiab 0, Santos 0