ABRA thwarted Basilan, 75-64, while Muntinlupa and Pasig remained unbeaten in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season on Friday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

Bucking a slow start, the Abra Weavers clustered 11 points, the last seven by Dave Ildefonso, closing the second quarter to seize control, 39-32, and keep the course en route to their sixth win against one loss in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

The Muntinlupa Cagers battered the Bacolod Tubo Slashers, 96-73, in the opener for their fourth straight win, keeping their distance from the Pasiguenos, who trounced the Bulacan Kuyas, 111-88, in the nightcap for victory No. 2.

Ildefonso wound up with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and 1 block to emerge as the best player and stretch the Weavers’ hot streak to four.

Other Weavers who delivered were Encho Serrano with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals; Marwin Taywan with 7 points, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds; and 6-foot-7 Raven Gonzales with 7 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks.

The Basilan Viva Portmasters tied the count at 20 on a triple by Gab Dagangon before moving ahead, 32-28, through a jumper by Emman Calo, a free throw by Jeff Viernes, and a follow-up by Rabel Al-Hussaini.

It turned out to be Basilan’s last taste of the lead, however, as Serrano and Taiwan scored, and Ildefonso turned hot for Abra, which stayed close to pacesetters Nueva Ecija (7-0) and San Juan (5-0) and towed Pangasinan, Pampanga, Zamboanga SiKat, Quezon Province and Rizal Province, all with 5-1 slates.

Basilan, which tumbled to 2-5, got 16 points plus 10 rebounds from Dagangon, 10 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals from Calo, 8 points plus 5 rebounds from John Mahari, and 6 points, 8 rebounds, plus 3 assists from James Tempra.

Pasig was boosted by Mark Montuano’s 26 points and 11 rebounds, Chito Jaime’s 17 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, Warlo James Batac’s 13 points and 7 rebounds, and Robbie Manalang’s 11 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds.

Bulacan, which plunged to 0-8, drew 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals from Joseph Mark Marquez, 14 points and 12 rebounds from homegrown Joseph Celso, 13 points from Gino Jamo-as, and 11 points from John Rey Sumido.

Powered by John Cantimbuhan, the Cagers led by as far as 96-71 before allowing the Tubo Slashers to peg the final count.

Enjoying one of their hottest starts, the Cagers trail only the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (7-0) and the San Juan Knights (5-0) in the race for playoff spots.

Cantimbuhan notched 25 points, 5 assists and 2 steals to clinch best player honors over Mart James Barrera, who posted 14 points and 3 rebounds, and Dom Matillano, who chalked 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

The Tubo Slashers, composed chiefly of homegrown players, suffered their second straight defeat in as many starts.

Bacolod got 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals from Mark Ray Dubouzet, 13 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists from PJ Intia, and 11 points plus 5 rebounds from Anthony White.

The MPBL visits the Olivarez College Gymnasium in Parañaque with games pitting Zamboanga SiKat against Mindoro at 6 p.m. and Parañaque against Ilagan Isabela at 8 p.m.

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