Quezon City saw off Sarangani Marlin 107-95 in the MPBL on Sunday evening, keeping their playoff hopes alive with another convincing home victory. The hosts had been inconsistent all season, but this was the kind of performance that separates them from the bottom half of the table. To be fair, Sarangani have been struggling for months, and this result was never really in doubt.
The win moves Quezon City further clear of the relegation zone, though they remain eighth with nine wins from eighteen games. Sarangani sit tenth after nineteen outings, with only three victories to their name. By then, the gap between the two sides was widening, and the hosts made no mistake in capitalising on their opponents' poor form.
Quezon City's recent results have been mixed at best, with defeats to Abrera Weaver and Zamboanga Sikat among their losses. Sarangani's run has been even harsher, including heavy defeats to Rizal Golden Coolers and Batang Kankaluu. Neither side has been particularly reliable, but the home team have shown they can win the matches they should.
What struck me watching was how Quezon City controlled the tempo rather than simply outscoring their opponents. They had nothing to do all evening in terms of chasing the game, and that composure is something Sarangani have lacked for most of the season. The scoreline tells you everything you need to know about the difference in quality between the two sides.
Quezon City are now one foot in the next round if they maintain this level, while Sarangani face a difficult run-in with little to play for. The hosts have the deeper squad and the momentum, and that combination is proving decisive in this league.