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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Abra, Batangas hold lead as Cebu trounces Ilagan-Isabela

Abra, Batangas hold lead as Cebu trounces Ilagan-Isabela

Published Aug 13, 2026 01:38 pm

At A Glance

  • Defending champion Abra Solid North and Batangas City beat their opponents on Wednesday, Aug. 12, to keep top spot in their divisions in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Batangas City's Rhinwill Yambing soars over Imus defenders. (MPBL)
Batangas City's Rhinwill Yambing soars over Imus defenders. (MPBL)
Defending champion Abra Solid North and Batangas City beat their opponents on Wednesday, Aug. 12, to keep top spot in their divisions in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.
The Abra Weavers routed the Bulacan Kuyas, 110-84, in the first game, while the Batangas City Tanduay Athletics thwarted the Imus Yangkees, 88-80, in the nightcap of another triple-bill in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 26-team tournament.
Abra extended its winning run to 17 and climbed to a 19-1 record in the North division, ahead of San Juan (16-2), Caloocan (17-3) and Ilagan Isabela (13-8) in the chase for playoff spots.
Batangas quelled Imus' final rally to rise to 16-3 in the South division, where it towed Quezon Province (13-3), Binan (17-4), Gensan (15-4) and Cebu (17-5).
The Cebu Greats trounced the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys, 80-52, in the second game to keep in line for a top 4 finish and the homecourt advantage that goes with it in the quarterfinal playoffs.
Mark Meneses led Cebu with 14 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Wowie Escosio with 10 points and 6 rebounds, homegrown Elmer Echavez with 9 points and 3 rebounds, and Cebuano legend Dondon Hontiveros with 9 points, all from triples.
Simon Camacho was chosen the SportsPlus best player, however, with an all-around 6 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks and 1 steal.
Impressive as the Greats were, Camacho warned they could play even better.
"I feel this isn't our best yet. This team has something more to offer," said the 6-foot-5 Camacho.
Only Jayboy Solis hit his stride for the Cowboys with 10 points and 3 rebounds, while Arth Dela Cruz settled for 6 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks.
Dave Ildefonso, the reigning MVP, posted 23 points, 7 assists and 2 rebounds to capture his fifth straight best player honors for Abra.
Alfred Batino supported with 13 points and 6 rebounds; Raven Gonzales, last year's top rookie, contributed 13 points and 4 rebounds; Jake Figueroa chalked up 10 points, 7 assists, 5 steals and 4 rebounds; and 6-foot-8 Drex Delos Reyes carded 10 points plus 2 rebounds.
The Weavers dominated both boards, 47-30, and exploited this advantage to outscore the Kuyas, 72-26, in the paint.
Bulacan slipped to 5-16 despite Benedict Benedictos' 29 points, laden with nine triples, 3 assists and 2 rebounds, Andrei Acop's 12 points and 7 rebounds, and Jeremy Cruz's 12 points and 2 assists.
Batangas led as far as 63-38, midway through the third quarter, but Imus turned hot in the fourth and threatened, 78-81, after back-to-back triples by Dylan Darbin and Meray Merada.
Batangas' Ino Comboy, however, drilled in a triple and Oliver Arim drove in to seal the outcome, 86-78, with 41.3 seconds left.
Rhinwill Yambing paced Batangas with 18 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, Cedrick Ablaza with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists, homegrown Nikki Perez with 11 points and 4 rebounds, and Jhan Nermal with 9 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals.
Imus tumbled to 3-16 despite Darbin's 27 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, Ian Pardo's 16 points and 4 assists, and John Calma's 10 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals.
The tournament returns to the One Arena Cainta in Rizal Province on Thursday, featuring games between Manila and Marikina at 3 p.m., Paranaque and Quezon Province at 5 p.m., and Pasig and Negros at 7 p.m.

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