Opening-day winners Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire and Biñan-Tatak Gel collide on Wednesday in an early clash of unbeatens in the 2026 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League at the Batangas City Coliseum.
The Valkyries and the Angels headline the double-header at 6:00 PM, with both teams putting their perfect starts on the line in a showdown that could quickly shape the early tone at the top of the standings.
Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire is coming off a dominant 85-53 win over Caloocan, showcasing its high-powered offense while anchoring its success on a stifling defensive effort.
Despite the lopsided victory, the Valkyries shot just 39 percent from the field — a concern head coach Cholo Villanueva is keen on addressing as they look to sharpen their efficiency heading into their next assignment.
“We need to improve on our scoring efficiency. We had a lot of stops, but on the other end, we were having empty possessions. So we want to make stops and still score on the other end with good shots,” said Villanueva.
Christine Bariquit and Snow Peñaranda are expected to lead the charge anew, anchoring Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire’s presence underneath the basket with their strength, timing, and steady interior play.
The Valkyries are also set to get an even bigger boost with the arrival of reigning MVP Afril Bernardino, who recently helped Gilas Pilipinas secure qualification for the FIBA 3×3 World Cup after the qualifiers in Singapore.
Bernardino missed the team’s opening game, but her impending return is expected to further strengthen an already formidable Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire squad.
Biñan-Tatak Gel, fresh off a convincing 66-46 win over RK Hoops-Quezon City 10ACT, will once again lean on Eka Soriano, who impressed with 20 points in her debut.
However, for the Angels to sustain their strong start, they will need ample support from Monique Del Carmen and Chack Cabinbin, whose contributions will be crucial in maintaining balance on both ends against a stacked Valkyries side.
(C) WMPBL Images
In the opening game, Caloocan and RK Hoops-Quezon City 10ACT — both reeling from lopsided defeats to open the tournament backed by Aktive — will face off at 4:00 PM in search of their first win.
Janine Pontejos and Rejoice Adlawan will lead the charge for Lady Kankaloo, while Faith Panti and Stiff Larosa are expected to carry the fight for RK Hoops-Quezon City 10ACT in a crucial early clash between two teams still searching for a breakthrough victory.
