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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Caloocan seizes lead; Abra dismantles Marikina

Caloocan seizes lead; Abra dismantles Marikina

Published May 8, 2026 01:13 pm

At A Glance

  • Caloocan Batang Kankaloo gained the solo lead with a 99-52 thrashing of the Bacolod Masskaras on Thursday, May 7, in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the One Arena Cainta in Rizal Province.
Dom Escobar delivers for the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo. (MPBL Images)
Dom Escobar delivers for the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo. (MPBL Images)
Caloocan Batang Kankaloo gained the solo lead with a 99-52 thrashing of the Bacolod Masskaras on Thursday, May 7, in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the One Arena Cainta in Rizal Province.
The Batang Kankaloo cruised to their sixth straight win and broke free from the Gensan Warriors (5-0) in the overall standings of the two-division, 28-team tournament.
With all 13 players fielded contributing, Caloocan stormed ahead, 97-46, by dominating the rebounds (58-28), assists (38-15), steals (12-4), and blocks (7-2) departments over Bacolod, which tumbled to 1-5.
Touted Ateneo de Manila recruits Dom Escobar and Kymani Ladi delivered as the Batang Kankaloo controlled the game throughout.
The 6-foot-5 Escobar posted 21 points, laced by four triples, 7 rebounds and 2 assists to clinch the best player honors over the 6-foot-8 Ladi, who tallied 17 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals.
Jammer Jamito supported with 12 points and 5 rebounds, followed by Robby Celiz and Jeff Manday with eight points each.
Only Ram Mesqueriola and Khenth Guiab put up a struggle for Bacolod with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Abra batters Marikina
Defending champion Abra Solid North rebounded with an 89-53 dumping of the Marikina Shoemasters in the nightcap, raising its record to 3-1.
Drex Delos Reyes asserted his hulking 6-foot-8 frame to notch 16 points and 8 rebounds for the Abra Weavers, who saw their 48-win run, including 10 in the 2026 Preseason Invitational, snapped by the San Juan Knights (66-58) on May 2.
Other Weavers who delivered were Shaun Ildefonso, with 11 points and 5 rebounds, Encho Serrano, with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, and Kascius Small Martin, with 10 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals.
Reigning MVP Dave Ildefonso, who sustained an ankle injury in the loss to San Juan, and DJ Fenner did not play for Abra.
Marikina, which slid to 2-4, drew 13 points and 7 rebounds from JR Alabanza and 10 points plus 6 rebounds from Louie Vigil.
Pasig nips Basilan
Warlo James Batac sprinted from the backcourt and drove in for the buzzer-beater that lifted Pasig past Basilan, 75-73, in the opener.
The 6-foot-2 Batac, a prized find from Bulacan State University, atoned for his earlier bad pass that paved the way for a triple by Basilan's Neil Owens, and, following another Pasig turnover, two free throws by John Wilson that knotted the count at 73-73 with 5.5 seconds left.
It was a great escape for Pasig, which wasted a 53-30 spread, only to grind out its second win in three starts in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.
Homegrown Jerome Galicia was Pasig's top scorer with 18, but it was Jacob Galicia who clinched the best player award with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks.
Buenaventura Raflores contributed 14 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists, while Batac finished with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.
Basilan, which leveled its slate at 3-3, got 16 points and 6 rebounds from John Wilson, 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals from John Byron Villarias, 11 points and 3 rebounds from Joshua Marcos, and 11 points and 3 rebounds from former Far Eastern University standout Neil Owens.
The tournament continues at One Arena Cainta on Friday, featuring games between Iloilo and Quezon City at 4 p.m., Sarangani against Pasay at 6 p.m., and Imus against Cebu at 8 p.m.

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