DON'T look now but the Abra Solid North Weavers have just become more formidable with the acquisition of KBL mainstays JD Cagulangan and Jake Figueroa and former Strong Group Athletics-Philippines forward DJ Fenner.
All three players have already signed contracts with the Weavers, making the reigning MPBL champions an even more daunting force for rival teams in the coming 10th season of the country’s biggest regional league.
“I am happy to announce to our kababayans and fans in Abra and in Northern Luzon, as well as in the Philippines, that we were able to get these players to sign for the team,” said Abra lone district representative and team owner JB Bernos.
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“It took us weeks to get these players to join us, but the efforts were worth it. Salamat sa mga partners ng team who supported and have been backing us. I have high hopes for this team,” said the usually reserved solon who is supported in the team by Burlington and Lamtex and different businessmen/sportsmen from the north.
Bernos bared that getting the three to sign, especially Figueroa and Cagulangan, was by no means easy.
He said Cagulangan and Figueroa's contracts in the Korea league have expired.
“Nanghingi kami ng tulong sa mga kaibigan namin. Sila naging channel to get them to play. Una akala ko hindi namin magagawa pero because of their help, nakuha sakto rin kasi finished contract na sila sa KBL,” he said.
“Now, we are excited how they will jive with our system, I can’t imagine the excitement this will give our fans,” said Bernos.
The Weavers are coming off an impressive twin conquest of the 2025 MPBL season as well as the recent preseason tournament. And with their rejigged line-up, they are - atleast on paper - dead set on defending the crown, a feat that was done by the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the 2023 and 2024 seasons of the MPBL.
“Sa ngayon, winning another championship is not yet our immediate concern. We have to get these new players to jell with the core of our old team. Mahirap naman na magbilang agad kami ng sisiw sa kung ilan ang itlog,” said Bernos, whose Weavers squad recently defeated PBA team Converge during their tune-up last February.
Before the arrival of Figueroa, Cagulangan, and Fenner, Fil-Am Kascius Small-Martin and social media reels favorite Drex Delos Reyes and Tucker Molina, the Weavers are already brimming with talent behind a core of Dave Ildefonso, Encho Serrano. Mike Ayonayon, Alfred Ryan Batino, John Oduba, and 6-foot-7 Raven Gonzales.
The members of the championship Weavers team who are no longer coming back are PBA rookies Geo Chiu, Jason Brickman, Jason David, and CJ Austria; veteran Mark Yee, Simon Camacho, Jolo Mendoza and the injured Marwin Taywan.
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“Definitely, we will miss those guys. We owe a lot to them as they laid the foundation of our winning tradition. But I hope the new breed of Weavers will be equally competitive and tough. Yun naman ang signature ng team natin. We always think of ourselves as the underdogs,” said Bernos.
“I just hope that with our former players now making waves in the PBA, mai-inspire yung present core namin to deliver and make themselves better. Kasi 'yan ang isang aim ko sa team, be the best platform for this generation of Filipino talents,” he added.
Asked how he sees the competition in the MPBL, which is expected to trim down the number of participants this season, but has so far lured top-caliber talents both from the college ranks and overseas, Bernos expressed excitement.
“Maganda ang mga laban ngayon kasi halos lahat ng teams lumakas. Yung availability of amateur players because walang draft, yun ang naging advantage ng liga. Ako I am looking at every team to be competitive especially San Juan, Quezon and even the others. This is going to be an exciting season. We can’t wait,” he said.
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