Caloocan needed just one scoring spurt to subdue Pasig City, 96-87, on Thursday and keep pace with Abra Solid North in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
With Kymani Ladi pouring in 10 points, the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo unleashed an 18-point run bridging the second and third quarters to pull away, 53-33, and secure another win in the round-robin elimination phase of the 26-team tournament.
The Batang Kankaloo improved to 18-3, tying the San Juan Knights and remaining in the hunt for one of the top four spots in the North Division quarterfinal playoffs. They still trail the Abra Weavers, who defeated the Quezon City Black Bulls, 79-71, in the first game.
The 6-foot-8 Ladi finished with 28 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two blocks, while Jeff Manday added 15 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
Rommel Calahat, Dom Escobar, and Jammer Jamito chipped in eight points apiece for Caloocan.
Pasig fell to 10-11 despite Jerald Bautista’s 18 points, three rebounds, and two assists; Jerome Garcia’s 17 points and five rebounds; Jacob Galicia’s 14 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks; and Keith Pido’s 10 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
The Meycauayan Marilao Gems also defeated the Bulacan Kuyas, 91-80, in the second game to improve to 13-10 and close in on Ilagan Isabela (13-9) in the North Division standings.
Jayson Apolonio led the Gems with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, followed by MJ Dela Virgen with 16 points and three assists, and Agem Miranda with 15 points, three assists, and two steals.
Bulacan dropped to 5-10 despite 16 points from Benedict Benedictos, 13 from Vince Artrei Sarmiento, 12 from Jeremy Cruz, and 10 from Jonathan Medina.
(C) MPBL
With all 12 players finding the scoring column, Abra extended its winning streak to 19 games and improved to 21-1, further solidifying its bid to defend its North Division and MPBL national titles.
Dave Ildefonso led the Weavers with 18 points, while Raven Gonzales added 12 in the wire-to-wire victory. Encho Serrano scored nine points, while Ryan Batino and John Uduba contributed seven apiece.
Quezon City slipped to 9-12, with MJ Joson leading the Black Bulls with 13 points.
The 2026 MPBL All-Star festivities will be held on Saturday, highlighted by the North Division standouts taking on the South Division selection at 8:30 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.
Gonzales, the 2025 Rookie of the Year, and Ildefonso, the reigning MVP, will start for the North alongside Caloocan’s Kymani Ladi, Pasig’s Warlo Batac, and San Juan’s Orlan Wamar.
The South starters are Ced Manzano of Quezon Province, Mark Meneses of Cebu, Jhan Nermal of Batangas City, Nic Cabanero of Biñan, and Hesed Gabo of GenSan.
Also on tap are the 2 p.m. exhibition game between the executives of the North and South divisions, the 3-point shootout at 3:45 p.m., the slam dunk contest at 5:25 p.m., and the 1-on-1 competition at 7 p.m.
