Abra thwarts Basilan; Muntinlupa, Pasig win

Abra thwarted Basilan, 75-64, while Muntinlupa and Pasig remained unbeaten in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season on Friday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

Bucking a slow start, the Weavers clustered 11 points, the last seven by Dave Ildefonso, closing the second quarter to seize control, 39-32, and keep the course en route to their sixth win against one loss in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

The Muntinlupa Cagers battered the Bacolod Tubo Slashers, 96-73, in the opener for their fourth straight win, keeping their distance from the Pasigueños, who trounced the Bulacan Kuyas, 111-88, in the nightcap for victory No. 2.

Ildefonso wound up with 27 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block to emerge as the Best Player and stretch the Weavers’ hot streak to four.

Other Weavers who delivered were Encho Serrano with 12 points, five rebounds and two steals; Marwin Taywan with seven points, six assists, three steals and two rebounds; and 6-foot-7 Raven Gonzales with seven points, three rebounds and two blocks.

The Basilan Viva Portmasters tied the count at 20 on a triple by Gab Dagangon before moving ahead, 32-28, through a jumper by Emman Calo, a free throw by Jeff Viernes, and a follow-up by Rabel Al-Hussaini.

It turned out to be Basilan’s last taste of the lead, however, as Serrano and Taiwan scored, and Ildefonso turned hot for Abra, which stayed close to pacesetters Nueva Ecija (7-0) and San Juan (5-0) and towed Pangasinan, Pampanga, Zamboanga SiKat, Quezon Province and Rizal Province, all with 5-1 slates.

Basilan, which tumbled to 2-5, got 16 points plus 10 rebounds from Dagangon, 10 points, two rebounds and two steals from Calo, eight points plus five rebounds from John Mahari, and six points, eight rebounds, plus three assists from James Tempra.

Pasig was boosted by Mark Montuano’s 26 points and 11 rebounds, Chito Jaime’s 17 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals, Warlo James Batac’s 13 points and seven rebounds, and Robbie Manalang’s 11 points, 11 assists and six rebounds.