Abra tightens hold of 2nd spot

Abra thwarted Pangasinan, 75-68, to keep the second spot in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2026 Season at the Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued, Abra late Saturday.

Powered by Dave Ildefonso, Encho Serrano, CJ Austria and Raven Gonzales, Abra kept Pangasinan at bay majority of the game to extend its winning streak to 12 and climb to 14-1, ahead of San Juan (13-1), and behind Nueva Ecija (15-0) in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

The San Juan Knights trounced the Muntinlupa Cagers, 77-43, in the second game of a triple-bill.

Ildefonso posted 18 points, five rebounds and four assists while Serrano had 15 points and seven rebounds, and Austria wound up with 12 points, nine rebounds and two assists to clinch Best Player honors.

The 6-foot-7 Gonzales, who put the Weavers on safer waters with back-to-back jumpers, 70-60, ended up with eight points and eight rebounds.

Abra strung up 10 points, sparked by Ildefonso and capped by Joshua David, to pull away and hand Pangasinan its fifth loss in 14 starts.

The Heatwaves, hampered by their 6 of 14 free throw performance, got 16 points, five rebounds and three assists from Hesed Gabo, 11 points and five rebounds from Vic Manuel, and 10 points plus eight rebounds from Jorey Napoles.