San Juan, Abra book contrasting triumphs

San Juan and Abra took different routes to the top spot in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season on Monday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Juan Knights warded off Zamboanga SiKat’s challenge in the second half and prevailed, 80-69, in the nightcap, while the Weavers battered Manila Batang Quiapo throughout en route to a 117-63 rout in the opener.

San Juan and Abra raised their record to 20-1 and moved ahead of Nueva Ecija (19-1) in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

Trailing in the first quarter, San Juan, with Michael Calisaan and Orlan Wamar at the helm, seized control at the break, 36-33, and never yielded it back to Zamboanga, which dropped to 15-7.

Calisaan posted 20 points and eight rebounds while Wamar notched 13 points, 10 assists and four rebounds. AC Soberano and Kenneth Villapando provided support with 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Zamboanga got 14 points, three rebounds and two assists from Carl Bryan Cruz, 13 points and four rebounds from Ichie Altamirano, and 12 points, four rebounds and three assists from JP Cauilan.

Also-ran Bacolod stunned listless Basilan Starhorse, 76-73, in the second game to improve to 3-18.

Basilan erased a 57-69 deficit and briefly held the lead, 72-71, following back-to-back triples from Lorenzo Navarro.