MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion Abra Solid North fielded in coveted recruit Jake Figueroa for the first time on Wednesday and reaped immediate dividends with a 113-75 demolition of Imus Yangkee in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Season 2026 at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
The 6-foot-3 Figueroa, who had stints with the National University Bulldogs in the UAAP and Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebis in the Korean Basketball League, posted 14 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists in 16 minutes and 22 seconds of play to power the Abra Weavers to their fourth win in five starts in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.
Figueroa was chosen the SportsPlus best player over fellow Weavers Kascius Small-Martin, with 15 points, 6 assists and 2 steals, Drex Delos Reyes, with 14 points, 4 blocks, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, Shaun Ildefonso, with 12 points and 2 rebounds, and homegrown Jay Yutuc, with 10 points, 3 steals, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.
The Weavers, who led as far as 99-53 in the fourth quarter, trail the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo (6-0), the Gensan Warriors (6-0), the Quezon Huskers (4-0), the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys (5-1) and are tied with the San Juan Knights, who snapped their 48-win streak, in the race for playoff berths.
Comfortably ahead, 28-10, the Weavers padded the lead to 46-13 after an 18-3 tear, 10 by Shaun Ildefonso, who made up for the absence of his injured younger brother Dave, the reigning MPBL MVP.
Other Weavers not included in the submitted roster were key players Raven Gonzales, JD Fenner and Tucker Molina.
Imus, which tumbled to 2-5, got 14 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds from Ralph Robin, 12 points and 4 rebounds from Eroll Soriano, and 12 points, 3 assists and 2 steals from Janjan Salazar.
Medillo wins P200,000 in SportsPlus Clutch Time Challenge
Meanwhile, Arvie G. Medillo drilled in his third halfcourt shot at the 45th second buzzer to win P200,000 in the SportsPlus Clutch Time Challenge held at the halftime break of the Abra-Imus tussle. Medillo said he would use the money for house needs, a small business, and education savings.
The MPBL goes to the Novadeci Sports Complex for the first time on Thursday, featuring games between Zamboanga SiKat and Pasay at 4 p.m., Gensan and Ilagan at 6 p.m., and host Quezon City and Valenzuela at 8 p.m. TMT
