Caloocan seized the solo lead, while Abra Solid North extended its unbeaten run in the MPBL 2026 Season on Monday at the San Jose Del Monte Sports Complex in Bulacan.
The Caloocan Batang Kankaloo routed the Meycauayan Marilao Gems, 97-79, in the nightcap to secure their fourth straight win and move ahead of the Gensan Warriors and the Bataan Risers, who both hold 3-0 records.
Powered by rookie sensation Kean Baclaan and four other double-digit scorers, the Batang Kankaloo controlled the game from start to finish, leading by as much as 74-49 and dropping the Gems to a 1-2 slate.
Baclaan, a former De La Salle Green Archers standout, tallied 15 points, 10 assists, and 4 rebounds to earn Best Player honors over ex-Ateneo Blue Eagle Kymani Ladi, who finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
Eric Camson and Paul Casin chipped in 13 points apiece, while Jammer Jamito added 11 points and 6 rebounds for Caloocan.
The Gems drew 25 points from Shawn Argente, with Agem Miranda and Patrick Ramos contributing 14 points each.
In the second game, defending champion Abra Weavers turned back Batangas City Tanduay Athletics, 98-91, to improve to 2-0 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 28-team, two-division tournament.
Shaun Ildefonso scored eight points in a decisive 10-1 run that broke the game’s final deadlock at 40, sparking Abra’s pullaway.
Mike Ayonayon caught fire, with Encho Serrano providing support as the Weavers stretched their lead to as much as 16 points four times, the last at 73-57 with 3:55 remaining in the third quarter.
Ayonayon finished with 16 points and 2 rebounds, DJ Fenner added 15 points—highlighted by a two-handed slam at the buzzer to end the first half—along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists, while Serrano contributed 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Also stepping up in Abra’s 48th straight win dating back to last year were Shaun Ildefonso with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists; Raven Gonzales with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks; Kascius Small-Martin with 9 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds; and reigning MVP Dave Ildefonso with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
In the opener, Basilan Steel leaned on John Wilson’s hot shooting to edge Cebu, 80-75, and climb to a 2-1 record.
Wilson, flashing the form that earned him the 2019 MPBL MVP award, exploded for 33 points on seven triples, along with 9 rebounds and 2 steals. He was backed by Gab Cometa with 9 points and Jayvee Casio with 8, including two three-pointers.
Wilson’s shooting sparked Basilan’s offense, as the team knocked down 15 of 31 attempts from beyond the arc for an impressive 48.4 percent, compared to Cebu’s 4-of-31 (12.9 percent).
Cebu led 50-40 before Basilan unleashed a 16-4 run—11 points coming from Wilson—to take a 56-54 advantage.
The Steel then buried five straight triples to stretch the lead to 74-66, a deficit Cebu could no longer overcome as it dropped to 2-2.
The Greats were led by Mark Meneses with 18 points and 6 rebounds, Dhon Reverente with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, and Brian Heruela with 9 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals.
The league resumes Tuesday at the Pasay Astrodome, featuring Marikina vs. Quezon City at 4 p.m., Bacolod vs. Gensan at 6 p.m., and Bataan vs. Pasay at 8 p.m.
