Cebu pulls off upset win vs Abra in MPBL
MANILA, Philippines — The Cebu Greats shook the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season with a 74-70 stunner over the Abra Solid North Weavers on Monday at the Ynares Center Montalban in Rizal Province.
Kint Akiar delivered in the homestretch to complete what Mark Meneses set up, lifting Cebu to its fourth straight win and a 19-5 record in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 26-team tournament.
Ariar, a 6-foot-3 find from the Cebu Institute of Technology University and Letran, drilled in a jumper and two free throws in the last 42 seconds as Cebu snapped Abra's hot run at 19 and pulled the Weavers down to 21-2.
Ron Dennison also delivered at clutch time, making two charities with 20.3 seconds left, compensating for the two free throws of Abra's Alfred Ryan Batino, only 12.3 seconds to go.
Overall, Meneses carried the Greats past the defending champion Weavers with 26 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks in 35 minutes and 29 seconds of play.
Meneses was named the Best Player over Dhon Reverente, with 16 points — 12 in the third quarter — and four rebounds; and Ariar, who notched eight points and two rebounds.
Abra drew 20 points, 11 rebounds and two assists from Dave Ildefonso; 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals from DJ Fenner; and eight points and nine rebounds from John Uduba.
With Ildefonso pouring in 12 points and Uduba adding six, Abra took the half, 38-34, negating Meneses' 16-point effort for Cebu, which is ranked fourth in the South Division behind first game winner Quezon Province (16-3), Binan (19-4) and Batangas City (16-4).
Defending champion Abra still paces the North Division, towing San Juan and Caloocan, both 18-3, and Ilagan Isabela (13-9).
Quezon trounces Manila
The Quezon Huskers battered Manila Batang Quiapo, 107-65, to signify their bid for a third straight South division title.
Manila led briefly, 17-16, as Joe Gomez De Liano knocked in his first three triple attempts. Quezon, however, clustered 28 straight points bridging the first and second quarters to regain control, 44-17, and never let go.
All 15 Huskers, with Cedric Manzano piling 16 and John Abate adding 14, scored as they led by as far as 107-61 with 50.4 seconds left.
Binan thwarts Rizal
Binan quelled Rizal XentroMall's repeated rallies and prevailed, 65-61, in the nightcap.
Nic Cabanero shone again for Binan with 14 points, 14 rebounds and two assists; followed by Kenny Rocacurva, with 12 points, eight rebounds and four steals; Carlo Lastimosa, with 11 points and two rebounds; Mochael Mabulac, with 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists; and Pamboy Raymundo, with 10 points and four assists.
Rizal, which saw its five-win streak broken, drew 10 points and 10 rebounds from veteran Mark Yee.
Also-ran Manila fell to a league-worst 1-23 card despite Mark Doligon's 20 points and De Liano's 18.
The MPBL returns to the Batangas City Coliseum on Tuesday, featuring games between Marikina and Pasig at 3 p.m.; San Juan and Mindoro at 5 p.m.; and Bataan and Batangas at 7 p.m. (Pool story)
- Latest
- Trending
