Nueva Ecija, Abra rip foes, stay on top

Nueva Ecija and Abra battered their opponents to keep the top spots while Pangasinan tripped Basilan to regain traction in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2025 Season at the Robert B. Estrella Memorial Stadium in Rosales, Pangasinan on Saturday.

The Rice Vanguards trounced the Bacolod Tubo Slashers, 116-87, in the opener to extend their winning run to 18 while the Abra Solid North Weavers followed suit with a 132-76 thumping of the Valenzuela City Magic, rising to 17-1 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

The Heatwaves held Basilan Starhorse to two points in the last six minutes en route to an 83-71 victory in the nightcap and boosted their drive to the playoffs with an 11-6 slate.

Basilan knotted the count at 69 following a triple by Gab Dagangon with 6:04 left only to suffer a meltdown in the home stretch.

Hesed Gabo presided over the Heatwaves' scorching 14-point run with two three-pointers before Basilan's James Tempra forged the final count with a jumper in the final 18.8 seconds.

Gabo posted 15 points, laced by a 3 of 3 shooting from the three-point area, five rebounds and four assists to clinch the Best Player honors over Pedrito Galanza, who notched 10 points and five rebounds. Michael Digregorio and Vic Manuel contributed eight points each for the Heatwaves.

Basilan fell to 8-9 despite Alex Cabagnot's 13 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals; Emman Calo's nine points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals; Arwind Santos' eight points and eight rebounds; Gab Dagangon's eight points and eight rebounds; and Jervy Cruz's eight points and four rebounds.