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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Abra annihilates Bacolod; Ilagan, Valenzuela prevail

Abra annihilates Bacolod; Ilagan, Valenzuela prevail

Published Jul 21, 2026 12:43 pm

At A Glance

  • Defending champion Abra Solid North clobbered Bacolod, 129-45, on Monday, July 20, for the all-time biggest victory margin in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the One Arena Cainta in Rizal Province.
Tucker Molina delivers for the Abra Solid North Weavers. (MPBL)
Tucker Molina delivers for the Abra Solid North Weavers. (MPBL)
Defending champion Abra Solid North clobbered Bacolod, 129-45, on Monday, July 20, for the all-time biggest victory margin in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the One Arena Cainta in Rizal Province.
Powered by Dave Ildefonso's career-high 40 points and six others in double figures, the Abra Weavers pounded the Bacolod Maskarras throughout to win by 84 points, eclipsing the San Juan Knights' 82-point blowout of the Mindoro Tamaraws (146-64) on Sept. 13, 2022, and raising their pacesetting record to 15-1 in the round-robin elimination phase.
Ildefonso, the reigning MVP, also tallied 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals to capture the SportsPlus best player honors over Raven Gonzales, with 19 points, 20 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks.
"We're really trying to prove that we're the team to beat," said Ildefonso, adding that the win is more important than his output.
Abra, which displaced San Juan (14-1) at the top spot, also drew 13 points, 7 assists and 2 rebounds from Nico Elorde; 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists from Alfred Batino; and 10 points each from Tucker Molina, Josh Asuncion and John Figueroa.
Exploiting their huge 65-36 edge in rebounds, the Weavers scored more points in the paint (70-10), second chances (19-2), and fast breaks (38-4) to hold the Maskarras to the season's lowest score and a 3-18 slate.
Bacolod got 12 points from Desmond Price, 11 from Emman Galman, and 10 plus 12 rebounds from Rafael Go.
Ilagan Isabela subdues Marikina
The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys followed suit with a 97-85 thumping of the Marikina Shoemasters in the nightcap, climbing to 12-6 and tightening their hold of the fourth spot in the North division.
JP Cauilan paced the Cowboys with 16 points and 4 rebounds, followed by Allen Mina with 14 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists and Arth Dela Cruz with 13 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds.
Alex Cabagnot provided support with 11 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds, and so did Robby Celiz, with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks.
The Cowboys surged ahead, 13-4, and never yielded control to close in on the Abra Weavers (15-1), the San Juan Knights (14-1), and the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo (16-2).
Marikina, which slid to 7-124 points, drew 15 points and 5 rebounds from Jeepy Faundo, 14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists from Regie Boy Basibas, and 14 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds from John Jordan Sta. Ana.
Valenzuela batters Imus
The Valenzuela Darkhorse battered the Imus Yangkees, 129-97, in the opener to check their skid and rev up their playoff drive in the North division.
With six players, headed by Geremy Robinson Jr., in double figures, the Darkhorse led as far as 127-95 in rebounding from three frustrating losses and raising their record to 9-10.
The 6-foot-2 Robinson came within sight of a triple-double with 22 points, spiked by four triples, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks to capture the best player honors over veteran Jay Collado, with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
"We just wanted to come back today and come back strong," said Robinsons, a former University of Santo Tomas Growling Tiger. "That's why my attitude was just to attack and keep pushing myself."
Other Darkhorses who hit their stride were JR Olegario, with 13 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds; Justin Alano, with 13 points and 5 rebounds; homegrown Nick Baluyot, with 11 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals; and Nico Mamaradlo, with 11 points and 7 rebounds.
In their last three games against Marikina, Batangas, and Pasig, respectively, Valenzuela was ahead for most of the time, only to falter in the last quarter.
Imus tumbled to 2-16 despite JM Marquez's 28 points and 7 rebounds, and Paul Christian Ferrer's 12 points and 3 rebounds.
The tournament returns to the Orion Sports Complex on Tuesday, featuring games between Basilan and Sarangani at 4 p.m., Manila and Rizal at 6 p.m., and Bataan and Paranaque at 8 p.m.

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