Weavers pip Knights, near North title

Defending champion Abra Solid North stepped closer to the North Division crown by beating San Juan convincingly, 76-65, in the SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2026 Season at the packed Gov. Andres Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued, Abra on Monday.

Learning from their scrambling 59-58 victory in Game 1, the Abra Weavers warmed up in the second half before cooling down in the last minute for a 2-0 lead, a win shy of sweeping the best-of-five series.

Filipino-American guard DJ Fenner delivered 20 points, six rebounds and two assists, followed by reigning Most Valuable Player Dave Ildefonso with 16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals for the Weavers, who led as far as 56-37 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Raven Gonzales, the 2025 Rookie of the Year, was chosen the SportsPlus Best Player with 13 points, eight in the fourth quarter, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Given more playing time after an uneventful debut in Game 1, JD Cagulangan, the 2025 Korean Basketball League Rookie of the Year, contributed seven points, six assists, five rebounds and two assists for Abra, which got six points and three rebounds from Tucker Molina.

Abra, the country’s lone representative to the East Asia Super League 2026-207 Season, will try to end the series in Game 3 on Saturday at a venue yet to be announced.

San Juan drew 20 points, seven rebounds and two steals from Mike Calisaan, 15 points, two rebounds and two assists from AC Soberano, and seven points, seven rebounds and three assists from Patrick Sleat.