Batang Kankaloo Take Sole Lead, Weavers Dominate in Big Wins

Caloocan took over the solo lead, while Abra made a powerful statement on Tuesday in the 2026 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

The Caloocan Batang Kankaloo cruised to a 77-49 victory over the Negros Hacienderos, claiming their third straight win in the round-robin elimination phase of the 28-team, two-division tournament.

The defending champions, Abra Solid North Weavers, were even more dominant, crushing the Parañaque Patriots 115-81 in the second game.

Led by Fil-Am DJ Fenner, the Weavers broke the game open, building a massive 99-63 lead before cruising to the comfortable win.

The 6-foot-6 former University of Nevada Las Vegas standout finished with 18 points, highlighted by a two-handed dunk, plus 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in just over 22 minutes.

Fenner’s efforts were supported by Raven Gonzales, who added 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 assists; Drex Delos Reyes, who contributed 15 points, including two one-handed jams, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks; and Jay Yutuc, who chipped in with 15 points and 5 rebounds.

Reigning MVP Dave Ildefonso also made an impact with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, while his brother Shaun added 7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal.

The Weavers dominated inside scoring, outscoring Parañaque 76-24 in the paint, thanks to the strong presence of Delos Reyes, Gonzales, and Tucker Molina.

Having swept the 2025 MPBL National Finals and the 2026 Preseason Invitational, the Weavers extended their winning streak to 47 games.

Parañaque, which suffered its third consecutive loss, was led by Ryusei Koga with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists; Marlon Monte with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists; and Jomar Santos, who added 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Caloocan took control after a tight first half, breaking away with an 11-point run sparked by a Kymani Ladi dunk.

Ladi finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Kean Baclaan added 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Jielo Razon also contributed 9 points and 3 rebounds.

Negros, which had an 18-8 lead early in the game, fell short despite Jan Formento’s strong performance of 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

The tournament moves to the Pasay Astrodome on Wednesday, featuring Meycauayan vs. Quezon City at 4 p.m., Batangas vs. Cebu at 6 p.m., and Basilan vs. Pasay at 8 p.m.