The Cebu Classic delivered a commanding defensive performance on the road, defeating the Quezon City Galeries Taipan 74-61 in an MPBL showdown at the Alonte Sports Arena on June 29, 2026. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for Cebu and showcased their ability to control tempo against a Galeries side struggling to find offensive rhythm.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, the Classic set the tone with aggressive on-ball pressure, forcing Quezon City into difficult shots. Cebu’s zone defense limited the Galeries’ interior scoring, holding them to just 61 points — well below their season average. The visitors built a double-digit lead by halftime and never looked back, with steady contributions from their bench and timely three-point shooting.

Quezon City, playing in front of their home crowd, fought back in the third quarter with a 10-2 run, but Cebu answered with a 14-6 spurt to close the period. The Galeries could not consistently break the Classic’s half-court traps, and turnovers proved costly throughout the night.

Key Moments

• First Quarter Surge: Cebu opened with a 12-4 run, fueled by two steals that led to transition buckets.
• Halftime Separation: The Classic extended the lead to 14 points (40-26) at the break after a buzzer-beating three from guard Mark Torres.
• Third Quarter Pushback: Quezon City trimmed the deficit to seven points (46-39) with 5:12 left in the third, but Cebu responded with a timeout and a 10-2 run to re-establish control.
• Closing Stretch: Cebu held the Galeries to just 12 points in the final quarter, sealing the win with 85% free-throw shooting.

Standout Players

Cebu Classic: Guard Mark Torres led all scorers with 22 points, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Forward Jun Villarreal added a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds, anchoring the interior defense. Point guard Roldan Santos dished out 8 assists and recorded 3 steals.

Quezon City Galeries Taipan: Center Kevin Reyes put up 18 points and 11 rebounds in a losing effort. Guard Paolo David contributed 12 points but shot just 4-of-13 from the field. The home team’s bench was outscored 28–10, a decisive factor in the outcome.

Season Impact

The win improves Cebu Classic’s record to 9-7, keeping them in the upper half of the MPBL South Division standings. The Galeries drop to 6-10, falling into a tie for eighth place in the North Division. With the playoffs approaching, every game carries weight — Cebu’s defensive grit against Quezon City’s offensive struggles could be a blueprint for their postseason push.

Quezon City will look to bounce back on the road against the Bicolano Volcanoes, while Cebu returns home to face the Manila Sharks on July 3.