CAINTA, Rizal — The Valenzuela City Darkhorse put an emphatic end to their recent slump, dismantling the Imus Yangkees, 129-97, on Monday in the 2026 SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Season at the One Arena Cainta in Rizal Province.
After suffering three heartbreaking losses in which they squandered fourth-quarter leads, the Darkhorse made sure history would not repeat itself. Valenzuela dominated from the opening tip until the final buzzer, producing one of its most complete performances of the season to improve to 9-10, strengthening its playoff push in the North Division.
Leading the charge was Geremy Robinson Jr., who came within one rebound and one assist of a triple-double while delivering another spectacular all-around performance. The former University of Santo Tomas standout finished with 22 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and three blocks, earning SportsPlus Best Player of the Game honors.
Valenzuela Dominates from Start to Finish
Unlike its previous outings, Valenzuela wasted no time asserting control of the contest.
The Darkhorse played with urgency on both ends of the floor, executing efficiently on offense while frustrating Imus with relentless defensive pressure. Their crisp ball movement created open looks, and they consistently converted those opportunities to build a commanding lead early.
Every time Imus tried to string together a run, Valenzuela answered immediately. Whether through transition baskets, perimeter shooting, or stops on the defensive end, the Darkhorse never allowed the Yangkees to gain any momentum.
Their dominance peaked late in the fourth quarter when they established a game-high 32-point advantage at 127-95, before eventually sealing the convincing 129-97 victory.
The win couldn’t have come at a better time for Valenzuela, which had dropped three straight games despite leading for most of those contests.
Robinson Flirts with a Triple-Double
Robinson once again showcased why he remains one of the MPBL’s most versatile players.
The 6-foot-2 guard filled nearly every column of the stat sheet, knocking down four three-pointers while controlling the pace of the game. His ability to score, facilitate, rebound, and defend made him the centerpiece of Valenzuela’s dominant performance.
Despite narrowly missing a triple-double, Robinson’s impact extended well beyond the numbers. He consistently made the right basketball decisions, whether attacking the basket, finding open teammates, or coming up with timely defensive plays.
Following the victory, Robinson emphasized that the team’s focus was simply on bouncing back after their recent disappointments.
“We just wanted to come back today and come back strong,” Robinson said after the game.
The former UST Growling Tiger added that he approached the contest with an aggressive mindset from the opening tip.
“That’s why my attitude was just to attack and keep pushing myself.”
That mentality paid off as Robinson spearheaded the offensive attack while setting the tone defensively, helping Valenzuela record one of its highest-scoring performances of the season.
COURTESY: MANILA TIMES
Balanced Attack Powers the Darkhorse
Although Robinson led the way, Valenzuela’s victory was fueled by a balanced offensive effort that overwhelmed the Yangkees throughout the contest.
Six Darkhorse players finished in double figures, highlighting the team’s unselfish approach.
Veteran Jay Collado contributed 20 points, four rebounds, and four assists, providing another reliable scoring option alongside Robinson.
JR Olegario chipped in 13 points, five assists, and three rebounds, while Justin Alano added 13 points and five rebounds.
Homegrown standout Nick Baluyot continued his steady play with 11 points, four assists, two rebounds, and two steals, while Nico Mamaradlo controlled the paint with 11 points and seven rebounds.
The balanced scoring prevented Imus from focusing its defense on a single player and allowed Valenzuela to maintain its offensive rhythm throughout all four quarters.
Lessons Learned from Previous Losses
The victory carried extra significance considering Valenzuela’s recent struggles.
In losses to Marikina, Batangas, and Pasig, the Darkhorse had built comfortable leads only to collapse during the fourth quarter. Those defeats tested the team’s confidence and threatened to derail its playoff campaign.
Against Imus, however, Valenzuela showed maturity and composure.
Instead of easing up after building a sizable advantage, the Darkhorse continued to execute their offense, defend aggressively, and play with the same intensity until the final whistle.
The disciplined approach ensured there would be no late-game collapse this time around.
Imus Continues Difficult Campaign
For the Imus Yangkees, the defeat dropped their record to 2-16, further complicating an already difficult season.
Despite the lopsided result, JM Marquez delivered an outstanding individual effort, finishing with 28 points and seven rebounds to lead Imus offensively.
Paul Christian Ferrer also reached double figures with 12 points and three rebounds, but the Yangkees struggled to match Valenzuela’s depth and offensive firepower.
The Darkhorse’s relentless pace and efficient execution proved too much for Imus to overcome.
Playoff Push Gains Momentum
With the victory, Valenzuela improved to 9-10, moving into ninth place in the MPBL North Division and keeping its postseason hopes alive.
More importantly, the win restored confidence to a team that had endured three painful defeats despite playing well for long stretches.
If the Darkhorse can continue receiving balanced production from their supporting cast while Robinson maintains his elite level of play, Valenzuela could emerge as one of the more dangerous teams entering the final stretch of the elimination round.
The dominant victory over Imus demonstrated exactly what the Darkhorse are capable of when they play with discipline, energy, and consistency from start to finish.
After finally ending their three-game skid in convincing fashion, Valenzuela now hopes this breakthrough performance becomes the spark that propels them toward a successful playoff run in the 2026 MPBL season.
