Akari-Rizal erased the pain of last year’s heartbreak in the sweetest way possible, dethroning defending champion Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire, 73-59, in the winner-take-all Game 3 to capture the 2026 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League title on Wednesday at the Parañaque Coliseum.
After building a commanding 16-point lead in the first half, the Sparks found themselves under pressure as the Valkyries mounted a spirited comeback. Jill Talas sparked the rally with a personal 7-0 run to open the fourth quarter, trimming the deficit to just four, 61-57.
Akari-Rizal responded with a defensive masterclass. The team held Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire scoreless for the next seven minutes and 28 seconds while closing the game on a decisive 12-2 run behind the efforts of Allana Lim, Janine Pontejos, and Mar Prado to clinch the championship in the tournament backed by Aktive.
(C) WMPBL
“Well, first of all, we’d like to thank the Lord for blessing us with this championship. My team truly deserves this. The players worked hard and sacrificed so much,” said Sparks head coach Derrick Pumaren after adding another title to his decorated coaching career.
“During halftime, I told them that the game is not over, that we got to play 20 more minutes. We cannot just play not to lose; we have to play to win. So we have to hand it to the girls — they fought hard,” he added.
Lim was named Finals MVP after averaging 17.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in the three-game championship series. She led the Sparks with 19 points and nine rebounds to deliver Akari-Rizal its breakthrough WMPBL crown.
Prado also starred with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds, along with three steals.
Raiza Palmera-Dy contributed nine points, nine assists, and five rebounds, while Jhenn Angeles also scored nine points. Pontejos added eight points, four assists, and three rebounds, while Camille Sambile chipped in eight points and nine rebounds.
(C) WMPBL
Akari-Rizal’s suffocating defense ultimately proved to be the difference, as Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire struggled to establish any offensive rhythm throughout the contest.
The Valkyries shot just 31-percent from the field and endured several costly scoring droughts — none more damaging than the seven-minute, 28-second scoreless stretch that ended the game and sealed their fate.
Reigning MVP Afril Bernardino paced Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire with 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting. She also added 11 rebounds, four assists, five steals, and four blocks while playing all 40 minutes of the title decider.
Khate Castillo finished with 11 points, while Talas provided 10 points in just 10 minutes off the bench.
The Scores
Akari-Rizal 73 – Prado 20, Lim 19, Palmera-Dy 9, Angeles 9, Pontejos 8, Sambile 8, Ventura 0, Abatayo 0, Adlawan 0, Candelario 0
Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire 59 – Bernardino 16, Castillo 11, Talas 10, Peñaranda 7, Tongco 7, Lozada 2, Calang 2, Aquino 2, Bariquit 2, Claro 0, Fabruada 0
Quarterscores: 21-13, 43-27, 61-50, 73-59
