Abra, San Juan rip foes, share top spot

Abra Solid North and San Juan trounced their opponents and shared the lead in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City on Saturday.

The Abra Solid North Weavers started hot and never wavered to batter Zamboanga SiKat, 80-60, while the Knights banked on Mike Calisaan and the returning Orlan Wamar to subdue the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys, 87-79, in the first game.

San Juan and Abra raised their record to 19-1, surpassing Nueva Ecija's 18-1 slate in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

The Weavers came through with 24 points and held their rivals to just four in the first quarter, then banked on Dave Ildefonso to complete their domination of the Zamboangueños, who tumbled to 15-6.

Ildefonso notched 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists to run away with the Best Player honors. Encho Serrano followed with nine points and four assists, Marwin Taywan eight points, six assists, three rebounds and three steals, Raven Gonzales eight points, four rebounds and three blocks, and Jolo Mendoza eight points plus three rebounds.

Zamboanga drew 14 points and seven rebounds from Carl Bryan Cruz, 13 points and eight rebounds from Reggz Gabat, and 10 points from Jul-Ashri Ignacio.

Mike Calisaan presided over the Knights' romp, clinching best player honors over Wamar, who got sidelined for nearly two months due to injuries, and AC Soberano.

Wamar posted 15 points, nine assists, three rebounds and two steals, while Soberano notched 10 points and five rebounds for the Knights, who trailed by as many as 10-19.

Dexter Maiquez also shone for the Knights with 10 points, highlighted by a seven-point cluster in the second quarter, and five assists.

Calisaan poured 12 points in the second quarter, lifting the Knights to a 45-38 lead at halftime.

Arth Dela Cruz tallied 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Cowboys, who saw their four-game run broken and dropped to 11-9.

The Cowboys also received 14 points from Gab Gomez, 12 points, eight assists, eight rebounds, and two steals from Agem Miranda, and 10 points, three assists, three steals, and two rebounds from Dennis Santos.