THE Abra Weavers snapped the Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers' hot streak with an 85-70 victory on Monday in MPBL 2025 Season at Ynares Arena 2 Montalban in Rizal Province.
With the count tied at 18, the Weavers sped away behind an Encho Serrano-sparked 14-point cluster from which the Golden Coolers never recovered.
Abra, with Dave Ildefonso, Jayson Castro Apolonio and Raven Gonzales joining the scoring spree, led by as far as 69-43 before cruising to its fifth win against a loss - the same card as Rizal, in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
READ Muntinlupa shackles Marikina for third straight MPBL win
Ildefonso posted 17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals to edge Serrano, who tallied 16 points, spiked by three triples, 3 assists and 2 rebounds, for Best Player honors in the nightcap of a tripleheader.
Apolonio wound up with 12 points and 5 rebounds, Gonzales 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks, followed by Marwin Taywan with 10 points, 6 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals.
The Golden Coolers greeted the fourth quarter with a 10-point run to move within 54-69 only to be met by a 9-point spurt from Ildefonso, Serrano and homegrown Redel Fabro that sent many of the local crowd to the exits, 54-78, with 3 minutes and 58 seconds left.
Rizal got 20 points plus 7 rebounds from Eric Camson, 17 points plus 2 rebounds from Alwyn Alday, 11 points, 8 rebounds plus 2 assists from Marco Balagtas, and 5 points, 13 assists, 3 steals and 4 rebounds from Keanu Caballero.
Winning debut for Pasig
Pasig City subdued Bacolod, 64-54, in a battle between debuting teams in the second game.
Trailing the Bacolod Tubo Slashers, 28-31, at halftime, the Pasiguenos revved up their attack to seize control by the third quarter. They led 56-43 midway through the final period through the efforts of Keith Pido, Warlo James Batac and Chito Jaime.
Pido wound up with 14 points and 2 assists, Batac 10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, and Jaime 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists to power Pasig's 10-man rotation.
Composed mainly of homegrown players, Bacolod got 12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists from Jaycee Sam Adjei, 10 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists from Chester Saldua, and 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals from Jan Gabriel Sobrevega.
The Muntinlupa Cagers claimed the Marikina Shoemasters as their latest victim, 72-63, in the opener.
The MPBL returns to the Cuneta Astrodome on Tuesday, April 8, with another triple-bill pitting Quezon City against Quezon Province at 4 p.m., Manila against Zamboanga SiKat at 6 p.m., and Sarangani against Pasay at 8 p.m.
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