Abra and Pangasinan beat separate opponents in the opener of the North Division semifinal round on Tuesday in the MPBL 2025 Season at the people-packed Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued, Abra.
The Abra Solid North Weavers clobbered Caloocan Batang Kankaloo, 80-54, while the Pangasinan Heatwaves stunned the San Juan Knights, 67-57, putting them within a win of advancing to the division finals.
Showing their depth and firepower, the Weavers led throughout and as far as 75-44 to extend their winning streak to a league-record 29, including 26 straight in the elimination phase and a 2-0 sweep of the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys in the quarterfinal playoffs.
Jason Brickman shone for Abra with 13 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds; Encho Serrano with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals; Raven Gonzales with 11 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks; Dave Ildefonso with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals; and 6-foot-10 Geo Chiu with 10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.
With 6-foot-8 Raven Gonzales scoring five, the Weavers blitzed the Batang Kankaloo, 10-0, and never wavered as they ruled the boards, 58-43.
Powered by Jorey Napoles and Bong Galanza, the pump-up Heatwaves unleashed a closing 8-2 run to take the half, 36-31, from which the off-form Knights never recovered, endangering their bid for a fifth straight stint in the division finals.
With Ian Melencio and Alyn Bulanadi joining the scoring fray, the Heatwaves, who toppled the Nueva Ecija Giant Lanterns (2-1) in the quarterfinals, led by as many as 63-52, with 3 minutes and 28 seconds left.
Napoles posted 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists to clinch best player honors. Galanza supported with 10 points, Michael Mabulac with 8 points and 6 rebounds, Melencio with 6 points, and Vic Manuel with 5 points and 5 rebounds.
Brickman shines as Abra dominates Caloocan; Pangasinan stuns San Juan
