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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Abra barges into North Finals; San Juan regains win form

Abra barges into North Finals; San Juan regains win form

Published Nov 8, 2025 02:28 pm

At A Glance

  • The Abra Solid North Weavers cruised to the North Division finals, while the San Juan Knights get back on track on Friday, Nov. 7, in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Orlan Wamar regains sharp form for the San Juan Knights. (MPBL Images)
Orlan Wamar regains sharp form for the San Juan Knights. (MPBL Images)
The Abra Solid North Weavers cruised to the North Division finals, while the San Juan Knights get back on track on Friday, Nov. 7, in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Asserting its superiority, Abra repeated over the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo, 74-62, in the opener to sweep their semifinal series and extend its league record to 30 straight victories.
The Knights exacted revenge over the Pangasinan Heatwaves, 83-66, in the second game to level their series at 1-1 and force sudden death for the right to meet the Weavers in the best-of-five North Finals.
Their ego bruised by the Heatwaves' 67-57 victory in Game One, the Knights stormed ahead after three quarters, 69-36, and were never threatened to gain momentum in the decider set at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 13, at the Flying V FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Atoning for his so-so outing in Game One, Orlan Wamar tallied 24 points, laced by four triples, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for the Knights. JC Cullar contributed 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, while AC Soberano, Dexter Maiquez, Arvin Gamboa and Nikko Panganiban supported with 9 points each.
Pangasinan got 11 points from Alyn Bulanadi and 10 each from JP Maguliano and Michael Mabulac.
Unlike their 80-54 blowout victory in Game One, the Weavers have to exert effort in warding off the challenge of Batang Kankaloo.
Fil-Am Jason Brickman, a two-time US NCAA Division assist leader, posted 18 points, spiked by four triples, 5 assists and 3 rebounds to clinch best player honors over Danny Ildefonso, who notched 14 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, and Encho Serrano with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
Other Weavers who delivered were Alfred Batino with 11 points and 6 rebounds, and 6-foot-10 Geo Chiu with 7 points and a game-high 12 rebounds that contributed to Abra's 53-40 edge off the boards.
Serrano pumped in six points in a 16-1 run that pushed Abra to its biggest spread, 59-43, with 1 minute and 30 seconds left in the third quarter.
Caloocan closed in, 34-38, on a drive by Jeff Manday with 43.9 seconds left, but Brickman canned a triple and Chiu scored from under in a buzzer-beater to push Abra ahead, 43-34, at the half.
The Batang Kankaloo, who missed the services of the suspended Reil Cervantes and the injured Paul Sanga, drew 9 points each from Jeramer Cabanag, Jeff Manday and Leo James Ingles.
The South Division semifinals continue on Monday at the Batangas Province Events Center with games pitting Gensan against Quezon Province at 6 p.m. and Batangas against Binan at 8 p.m.
Having won the best-of-three series openers, Quezon and Binan will try to sweep their opponents and advance to the South division finals.
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