Basilan Steel secured a 97-86 victory over Negros Asyenderos in the MPBL on Thursday evening. The away side took control early and never truly looked back as the home side's inefficiencies accumulated. And here's the thing — this result extends Negros' dismal run of form at home.
Negros Asyenderos remain rooted at the bottom of the table in 14th place after 17 games. They have managed just two wins against 15 defeats, accumulating zero points in the standings. To be fair, they had shown signs of life in their previous meeting with Pasig City, but that momentum evaporated against a more disciplined opponent.
Basilan Steel's away performance was characterised by consistent execution. They built a lead in the opening quarter and maintained it through careful shot selection. By then, the home side had already fallen into the habit of chasing the game rather than dictating tempo.
The visitors' recent results tell a more encouraging story. A narrow 75-74 win over Paranaque Patriots on August 6th demonstrated their ability to close out tight contests. This victory, however, was less about grinding out a result and more about capitalising on Negros' defensive lapses.
What stood out was the contrast in efficiency. Basilan Steel converted their opportunities while Negros left several chances on the table. The final margin of 11 points reflected a game that could have been tighter had either side made different choices in crucial moments.
The result leaves Negros Asyenderos still searching for consistency in what has been a difficult season. For Basilan Steel, the win adds credibility to their campaign and suggests they can compete with teams above them in the standings.