Akari-Rizal finish redemption run, capture first WMPBL championship

Akari-Rizal turned last year’s disappointment into a historic triumph, dethroning defending champion Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire with a 73-59 victory in the winner-take-all Game 3 to claim the 2026 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) championship on Wednesday at the Parañaque Coliseum.

The Sparks appeared in control early after opening a 16-point advantage in the first half, but the Valkyries refused to surrender without a fight. Jill Talas ignited Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire’s comeback in the fourth quarter with a personal 7-0 surge, cutting the deficit to just four points at 61-57.

Akari-Rizal, however, answered with a championship-caliber defensive stand. The Sparks held the Valkyries scoreless for the next seven minutes and 28 seconds and finished the game with a decisive 12-2 run behind clutch plays from Allana Lim, Janine Pontejos, and Mar Prado to secure the title in the Aktive-backed tournament.

"Well, first of all, we'd like to thank the Lord for blessing us with this championship. My team truly deserves this. The players worked hard and sacrificed so much," said Akari-Rizal head coach Derrick Pumaren.

“During halftime, I told them that the game is not over, that we got to play 20 more minutes. We cannot just play not to lose, we have to play to win so we have to hand it to the girls. They fought hard,” he added.

Finals MVP Lim delivered a championship-clinching performance, leading the Sparks with 19 points and nine rebounds. She averaged 17.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists throughout the three-game Finals series.

Prado was equally impressive, posting a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds while adding three steals.

Palmera-Dy contributed across the board with nine points, nine assists, and five rebounds, while Jhenn Angeles also scored nine points. Pontejos finished with eight points, four assists, and three rebounds, while Camille Sambile added eight points and nine rebounds.

Defense proved to be Akari-Rizal’s biggest weapon, as the Sparks consistently disrupted the Valkyries’ offensive flow. Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire shot only 31 percent from the field and struggled through multiple scoring droughts, including the crucial seven-minute, 28-second stretch without a basket that ultimately decided the championship.

Three-time MVP Afril Bernardino carried much of the load for the Valkyries, finishing with 16 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, five steals, and four blocks while playing the entire 40 minutes.

Khate Castillo added 11 points, while Talas contributed 10 points off the bench in a limited 10-minute appearance.