Abra took a cruise while Zamboanga had a bumpy ride toward the victory stand of Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2025 Season at the Paco Arena on Friday.

The Solid North Weavers overpowered the Sarangani Gripper, 103-75, in the first game to stay close to the pacesetters, while Zamboanga SiKat followed suit by surviving Ilagan Isabela, 63-62, and gaining traction in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

With all 15 Weavers scoring, Abra led by as far as 72-32 in notching their seventh straight win and climbing to a 9-1 card.

The Weavers trail only the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (10-0) and the San Juan Knights (9-0) in the race for playoff slots.

Roi Sumang scored the Zamboangueños’ last six points against four by the Cowboys’ Joshua Guiab to lift his team to an 8-2 card.

Sumang finished with 11 points and six assists, Abdul Sawat 13 points and 11 rebounds, and JP Cauilan abranine points and five rebounds.

The Cowboys, who dropped to 5-6, had a chance to reverse the outcome, but Gab Gomez missed his desperation triple from way out before the final bell sounded.

The Weavers gave the Grippers no chance to recover from a 20-46 halftime deficit.

Dave Ildefonso presided over Abra’s offense with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists, followed by homegrown Will Keane Lee with 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Marvin Taywan with 10 points and three assists.

Unable to find their mark, Encho Serrano and Mark Yee worked inside, snagging nine and eight rebounds that helped Abra rule underneath, 61-47, and produce 50 inside points against Sarangani’s 32.