Mendoza sparks third-quarter turnaround as Golden Coolers cool off Voyagers
The Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers found themselves in trouble at halftime, but a defensive turnaround in the third quarter changed everything.
After trailing the Pasay Voyagers by 11 points at the break, Rizal exploded out of the locker room with a 22-3 third-quarter blitz to flip the game and escape with a 67-61 victory on Saturday in the MPBL 2026 Season at The Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela.
The comeback improved the Golden Coolers to 13-7 and kept them firmly inside the South Division playoff picture, where they currently sit sixth and remain on course for a quarterfinal berth.
Jolo Mendoza led the charge for Rizal, providing the offensive spark with 18 points highlighted by three triples, along with five rebounds to earn Best Player honors.
The former Batang Gilas standout helped ignite the Golden Coolers’ surge as they erased Pasay’s halftime advantage and seized control of the contest.
Billy Robles also made his presence felt on both ends of the floor, recording seven points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. His biggest defensive contribution came in the final moments when he rejected Lennard Santiago’s drive to preserve Rizal’s narrow lead.
The victory reflected the defensive mindset coach Don Dulay continues to build within the team.
Meanwhile, Pasay could not sustain its early momentum despite a strong opening half. The Voyagers built a 37-28 halftime advantage after Edmund Dela Cruz connected on a buzzer-beating three-pointer, but their offense stalled after the break.
Christian Fajarito paced Pasay with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while also reaching the MPBL’s 1,000-point milestone. Renz Alcoriza added 11 points, and Santiago finished with 10 points and three rebounds.
The Golden Coolers now look to maintain their push toward the playoffs, while the Voyagers aim to recover as the elimination round continues.
The tournament resumes Monday at Paco Arena, featuring Parañaque against Biñan, Marikina versus Mindoro, and Manila against San Juan.
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