2 weeks Ago By Tempo Desk
Abra and Pangasinan trounced separate opponents on Friday to share the lead in the Manny Pacquiao presents MPBL 2025 Season at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna. The Abra Weavers started strong and battered the Marikina Shoemasters, 97-74, while the Pangasinan Heatwaves waxed hot throughout and torched the Bulacan Kuyas, 91-51, on Friday, March 14, to notch their second straight win in the round-robin elimination round of the 30-team tournament. Drilling in triples, the Weavers led by as far as 75-43, early in the third quarter, replicating the effort of the Heatwaves, who posted their biggest margin at the final buzzer.
Encho Serrano led Abra’s surge with 19 points, including 2 triples, 3 rebounds and 2 assists to clinch best player honors over CJ Austria, who posted 13 points, including 3 triples, and 2 rebounds, and Dave Ildefonso with 12 points, including 2 triples, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Jayson Castro Apolonio also delivered for Weavers Coach Yong Garcia with 10 points, including 2 triples, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, and so did homegrown Georell Gonzales with 8 points. The taller Weavers ruled the boards, 59-40, and emerged the better shooters, sinking 16 of 38 tries from beyond the arc for a high 42.
1 percent conversion. Way ahead, 45-20, at the half, the Heatwaves kept grinding behind Michael Mabulac, Michael Digregorio and homegrown Kriss Kelly Gurtiza. Mabulac tallied 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists to earn best player honors, besting Digregorio, who finished with 12 points and 2 rebounds, and Gurtiza, who notched 12 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals for Coach Jerson Cabiltes.
Vic Manuel flexed his muscles with 11 points and 4 rebounds, while Jerald Bautista chalked 8 points and 5 rebounds for the Heatwaves, who are projected to make the playoffs this season. The Kuyas got 17 points and 8 rebounds from RR De Leon and 13 points plus 8 rebounds from Jebb Bulawan, but still got clobbered underneath, 39-55. The Mindoro Tamaraws nipped Binan Tatak Gel, 73-69, in the nightcap to bounce back after dropping their first game.
Axel Inigo canned his four free throws in the last 33 seconds to lift Mindoro past Binan, which absorbed its second straight loss. Jun Manzo was chosen best player following a 14-point, 3-rebound, 2-assist, 2-steal stint, eclipsing Inigo’s 11-point, 2-assist effort. Other Tamaraws who delivered for Coach Rodney Santos were Wendelino Comboy with 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, Bambam Gamalinda with 8 points and 7 rebounds, and Fil-Am Ashon Andrews with 8 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
Kenny Roger Rocacurva’s 22 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals went for naught as Binan failed to overhaul a 51-64 deficit forged by RJ Ramirez’s 4-point play with 8 minutes and 50 seconds to go. Binan also drew 16 points and 10 rebounds from Jaymar Gimpayan and 11 points plus 6 rebounds from Carlo Lastimosa. The MPBL goes to the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City on Saturday, with games pitting Quezon City against Valenzuela at 4 p.
m., Manila against Rizal at 6 p.m.
, and Nueva Ecija against Basilan at 8 p.m..
