BENGALURU, India — Akari-Rizal salvaged a fifth-place finish in the FIBA Women’s Basketball League Asia 2026 following an 86-56 demolition of the Indian Railways on Saturday at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium here.
The reigning WMPBL champions took control late in the second chapter before pulling away for good in the ensuing period, eventually earning themselves some consolation after losing both of their games in the Group Phase — an 85-75 defeat to Cathay Life on Wednesday and a 73-94 rout at the hands of Sichuan Yuanda.
“I told my players that we have to play with a lot of pride,” offered head coach Derrick Pumaren. “We just have to come out and get a win in today’s game, and the players answered the call. They played well, they played hard.”
Bre’Amber Scott top-scored for the Sparks with 25 points and six rebounds, shooting an excellent 8-of-10 from the floor—including 3-of-4 from deep.
Saicha Grant-Allen notched a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds, while also adding five assists, two steals, and two blocks in 33 minutes.
The foreign reinforcements helped set the tone for the rout, combining for eight points in the 13-3 run toward a 42-30 lead entering the intermission.
Angel Surada then opened the third quarter with a layup to make it a 14-point spread and it would be all Sparks since, with Scott and Grant-Allen joining hands to push their lead to 20 for the first time at 53-33 with 6:48 on the clock.
Akari would lead by as many as 32 points, 76-44, behind Eka Soriano early in the final quarter as the Philippine reps simply had their way in the second half to eventually nail the first and lone win of their maiden international stint.
Jhazmin Joson (eight points, five assists), Allana Lim (seven points), and Kent Pastrana (five points, 10 rebounds, four assists) also contributed significantly for a Sparks team filled with former and present Gilas Women players.
“It was a great experience for us, and we’ll be happy to play again,” Pumaren said when asked about the possibility of returning to the league next year. “I think this will help in uplifting women’s basketball, especially in the Philippines.”
Pushpa Senthil Kumar and Harima Munishkannan had 13 points apiece for the Railways, who finished their first WBL Asia stint winless in three games.
