Abra hit its stride in the fourth quarter to subdue Rizal Xentromall late Saturday and share the spotlight with Nueva Ecija in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season’s at the jampack Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymansium at the University of Abra in Bangued.
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards thwarted the Paranaque Patriots earlier to remain unbeaten after 11 starts and join the Quezon Huskers at the helm in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament that played in the landlocked Northern Luzon province for the first time.
Trailing, 58-59, the Abra Weavers poured 14 points behind Roi Sumang while limiting the Golden Coolers to just two to break away and tally their fifth straight victory that put them in a tie with their victims at 8-5.
Sumang delivered 8 points, including two triples, in that decisive run and finished with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assist and 2 steals to earn best player honors.
Playing their first game for the Weavers, Mark Yee and Joseph Sedurifa delivered. Yee tallied 10 points, 11 rebounds plus 3 assists while Sedurifa notched 13 points, 3 rebounds plus 2 steals. Jeepy Faundo contributed 9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals for Abra Coach Yong Garcia.
The Golden Coolers got 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals from Alwyn Alday, 13 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists from Kraniel Viloria and 10 points each from Marco Balagtas and Keith Agovida.
Abra Weavers team owner Mayor JB Bernos and his wife Cong. Ching Bernos led the loud crowd that filled the venue to the rafters.
Unlike the Weavers, the Rice Vanguards took the easier route, leading by as far as 71-53 behind Will McAloney, Bill Robles, John Bryon Villarias and Chris Bitoon.
McAloney wound up with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists while Robles had a double-double 14 points, 11 rebounds plus 5 assists. Villarias, back from an injury, chalked 14 points and 2 assists while Bitoon chipped in 11 points, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Paranaque slid to 8-5 despite the 21-point, 16-rebound effort of John Uduba, the 13-point, 2-rebound, 2-assist output of JP Sarao, and the 10-point, 6-assist, 5-rebound and 2-steal contribution of Jielo Razon.
The Marikina Shoemasters bested the Bataan Risers, 80-72, in the opener.
Riding on Eric Joseph Pili’s long-range shooting, Marikina improved to 3-10 while pulling down Bataan to 4-9
Pili, a 6-foot-3 forward from St. Benilde, tallied 25 points, including 5 triples, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists to earn best player honors.
He was supported by Joe Gomez De Liano with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists, Sidney Mosqueda with 11 points and 4 steals, homegrown Jethro Escoto with 11 points, and homegrown Jomel Landayan with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
Bataan, which skidded to 4-9, got 15 points and 8 rebounds from Mitchelle Maynes, 10 points plus 11 rebounds from Jamil Gabawan and 12 points plus 2 rebounds from Yves Sazon.
The MPBL returns to the Alonte Sports Arena on Monday, June 17 with another triple bill pitting Bacolod against Pangasinan at 4 p.m., Muntinlupa against San Juan at 6 p.m. and Binan against Bulacan at 8 p.m.