Former Gilas Women guard Gabi Bade erupted for 30 points as Solar Home-Pangasinan edged Tagaytay-Tol in a fiery showdown, 79-76, to secure its second consecutive win in the 2025 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League regular season presented by Akari, Sunday evening at the Enderun Gym.
Bade delivered a dominant double-double performance—30 points and 13 rebounds—while also tallying six assists and four steals, all in front of her father, former PBA bruiser Cris Bade.
Her inspired outing powered the Suns to back-to-back victories, improving to a 2-1 win-loss record and claiming solo third in the six-team field supported by Uratex, Black Mamba, Red Dynasty, Aktive Balls, and Pocari Sweat.
More than just playing in front of her father, Bade found extra motivation when teammate Jewel Bartolo was stretchered off after twisting her left knee in the third quarter.
The Suns also had to deal with the ejection of Lee Sario, who picked up an unsportsmanlike foul at the 21.6-second mark of the opening period and later a technical foul with 1:52 left in the third.
(C) WMPBL
“I just got to stay ready. I know anything can happen in a game, especially when I got two fouls early in the first quarter, but I had to stay ready for my team. When I went back on the court, this is for my team, especially when [Jewel Bartolo] went down. We were gonna win this for her and I’m just happy we got this win,” Bade said postgame.
Tagaytay-Tol briefly held a 51-46 lead in the third quarter after a midrange jumper by Charmaine Natural, but the Suns responded with a composed 17-4 run that extended into the fourth period, giving them a commanding 63-55 advantage with over eight minutes left.
Natural and Erica Jimenez sparked a 9-4 counterattack, trimming the deficit to just three, 67-64. But Solar Home-Pangasinan answered with a clutch surge behind Bade, Aracelie Abaca, and Bettina Binaohan, pushing the lead back up to nine, 75-66, with 1:35 remaining.
The Patriots refused to fold, with Luisa San Juan hitting two free throws and a triple to narrow the gap to 75-71. However, Bade calmly knocked down crucial free throws with 15 seconds left to put the game out of reach and seal Solar Home-Pangasinan’s second straight win.
“Happy with the win. Satisfied with Gabi’s performance today, she brought us home para doon sa important victory na ito,” said head coach PJ Navarro.
LJ Miranda also impressed for the Suns with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and a steal, while Binaohan contributed eight points, five boards, three assists, and three steals. Before being ejected, Sario chipped in seven points and four dimes.
Solar Home-Pangasinan will look to extend its winning streak to three when it faces the unbeaten San Juan Lady Knights on Sunday, August 10, at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
(C) WMPBL
Meanwhile, Tagaytay-Tol dropped to 0-3, still searching for its first win of the season.
San Juan led the Patriots with 26 points on an efficient 10-of-16 shooting clip, along with six rebounds. Natural followed with 23 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block in a strong all-around effort.
Tagaytay-Tol will try to break into the win column when it takes on perennial contender Discovery-Rizal, also on August 10 at the same venue.
The Scores:
Solar Home-Pangasinan 79 –– Bade 30, Miranda 17, Binaohan 8, Sario 7, Bartolo 6, Abaca 4, Angeles 3, Salapong 2, Larrosa 2, Cancio 0, Go 0, Gonzales 0, Ordoveza 0.
Tagaytay-Tol 76 — San Juan 26, Natural 23, Jimenez 7, Santos 5, Pacia 4, Paraiso 4, Del Prado 3, Cantimbuhan 3, Antonio 0.
Quarterscores: 16-21, 38-41, 61-55, 79-76.
