The Abra Solid North Weavers flaunted their firepower and battered the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, 94-80, on Saturday to share the lead in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Lucena City Convention Center.
With Dave Ildefonso at the firing end, Raven Gonzales and John Uduba taking care of the rebounds, and Marwin Taywan orchestrating the plays, the Weavers led throughout, building a lead as high as 49-21 in raising their record to 21-1, the same as the San Juan Knights.
The Quezon Huskers followed suit with a 91-54 thumping of the Basilan Starhorse Portmasters in the nightcap, keeping the South Division top spot in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team, 2-division tournament.
Ildefonso posted 27 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists to clinch best player honors over Taiwan, who tallied 17 points and 10 assists; Uduba, who contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds; and Taywan, who chalked up 9 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists.
With Taywan sinking 4 of 5 triple attempts and Joshua David making 2 of 3, the Weavers converted 8 of 22 tries from beyond the arc and 24 of 28 charities for a high 85.7 percent.
The Giant Lanterns fell to 15-7, putting doubts on their capability to do a three-peat.
Deadlier from afar, the Huskers drilled in 35 of 73 field goal attempts, including 17 of 37 triple tries, and improved their record to 17-4.
Judel Fuentes paced the Huskers with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals; towing Will Gozum with 13 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals; LJ Gonzales with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals; homegrown icon Topeng Lagrama with 9 points, all from triples, 3 assists and 2 rebounds; and Ximone Sandagon with 9 points and 3 rebounds.
Basilan suffered its second straight defeat for a 10-11 slate, dropping to joint eighth with Muntinlupa in the South Division.
Caloocan Batang Kankaloo subdued Valenzuela City Magic, 69-56, in the opener to secure a playoff berth.
Ildefonso fires 27 as Abra batters Pampanga; Quezon, Caloocan win
