Handout photo/NBTC.MANILA — Batangas Mustangs pulled off the first stunner of the 2026 NBTC National Finals, stunning De La Salle Zobel, 82-71, in the Super 32 round on Monday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Nikko Rosales played the game of his life, draining six treys en route to his 24 points and five rebounds to lead the Mustangs to the shocker over the Junior Archers.
Godwin Virrey added 17 points and Sean Carl Lirio fired 16 to barge into the Division 1, a first for the proud province.
Maco Dabao, the NBTC no. 2-ranked high school player, gave it his all with his 16 points and six rebounds, but his efforts went for naught as DLSZ will have to fight its way in the Classification Round to be in contention in Division 2.
D'Generals x Dynamix Creative also took down last year's Division 2 runner-up Top Flight Sports Canada, 112-96, at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Ruzzel del Poso went nuclear with nine treys for his 32 points and eight rebounds to steer the Wildcard runner-up to the first division.
The day's other winners included top-seed Phenom NZ Blue Fire which rode Kieffer Alas' 33 points and eight rebounds; Fil-Am Nation Select USA's 86-56 domination of Fil-Euro Nation UK; and UST Tiger Cubs' 92-56 rout of Oasis Ballers Academy of Eastern Samar, 92-56.