Akari-Rizal completed a dominant semifinal sweep of RK Hoops-Quezon City 10ACT with a commanding 102-65 victory in Game 2 on Wednesday at the Parañaque Coliseum, punching its ticket back to the 2026 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Finals.
The Sparks, who cruised to a 93-67 win in the series opener, delivered a wire-to-wire performance to complete the two-game sweep and set up a Finals rematch against defending champion Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire.
Holding a 43-31 lead at halftime, Akari-Rizal put the game out of reach with a blistering second-half surge, outscoring RK Hoops-Quezon City 10ACT, 59-34. The Sparks stretched their advantage to as much as 39 points after a basket with 39 seconds remaining.
(C) WMPBL
“Well, I was not happy in the first half. I was not happy with the way we played in the first half,” said Sparks head coach Derrick Pumaren. “That’s why I was telling them that we cannot play the way we’re playing against Batangas.
“For us, we just have to stay sharp, and we have to run what we’re supposed to run kasi kanina parang wala kaming intensity. But in the second half, we came out with a different energy,” he added.
Akari-Rizal displayed its offensive depth as six players finished in double figures, led by Mar Prado with 15 points and five rebounds and Janine Pontejos with 14 points.
Shemiah Abatayo added 13 points and seven assists, while Raiza Palmera-Dy recorded 11 points and 10 assists as the Sparks extended their winning streak to nine games dating back to the elimination round.
Stef Ventura and Camille Sambile chipped in 10 points and six rebounds each, while Allana Lim contributed eight points to cap the team’s balanced offensive effort.
Akari-Rizal will face defending champion Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire in a highly anticipated Finals rematch, with Game 1 of the best-of-three championship series scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
(C) WMPBL
Tantoy Ferrer led RK Hoops-Quezon City 10ACT with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, while Caryl Molina finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.
RK Hoops-Quezon City 10ACT will take on Biñan-Tatak Gel in the bronze medal series, which also begins on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Scores
Akari-Rizal 102 – Prado 15, Abatayo 13, Palmera-Dy 11, Ventura 10, Sambile 10, Lim 8, Candelario 6, Angeles 5, Adlawan 4, Flor 4, Salapong 2, Del Prado 0
RK Hoops-Quezon City 10ACT 65 – Ferrer 15, Molina 14, Dampios 9, Alcantara 9, Antonio 6, Buendia 4, Isip 4, Dela Cruz 2, Docallos 2, Aragon 0, J. Panti 0, F. Panti 0, Young 0
Quarterscores: 29-13, 43-31, 74-54, 102-65
