Sparks Aim for Stronger Start, RK Hoops Look to Build on First Win

The Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) season continues with Akari and 10ACT RK Hoops-Quezon City looking to build on their opening victories as they clash with their respective opponents on Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Sparks (1-0) open the doubleheader against the winless Caloocan (0-2) at 4 p.m., followed by 10ACT RK Hoops-Quezon City (1-1) facing Pasig (0-1) in the 6 p.m. main event. After a dominant 78-60 victory over the Queenpins, Akari is eager to carry the momentum from its strong start into its second game of the season. The team is looking to maintain its early success and continue building its identity.

Head coach Derrick Pumaren emphasized the need for consistency and improved execution as the Sparks aim to stay focused despite their solid opening performance.

“We had a good start, but there’s still a long road ahead. We need to improve our offensive execution. Sometimes, we stray from our game plan, but we just need to keep executing the right way,” Pumaren said.

Akari will rely on the consistent play of Allana Lim, Raiza Palmera-Dy, and Mar Prado as they pursue another victory, with support from Aktive, in order to extend their early momentum. On the other hand, Caloocan is desperate to break its two-game losing streak, leaning on the leadership of Janine Pontejos, Rejoice Adlawan, and Dianne Pedregosa as they look to get their season back on track.

In the nightcap, 10ACT RK Hoops-Quezon City enters with newfound confidence after snapping a 10-game losing streak that dates back to the previous season. The team is now focused on stringing together back-to-back wins and building on its recent breakthrough performance.

Veteran guard Tantoy Ferrer will continue to lead the squad as they look to stabilize their rotation and build on the momentum from their first win, while facing a tough Pasig side that is also hungry for a rebound after a disappointing start to the season.

Pasig, led by Hazelle Yam and Lee Sario, will look to rely on their core players to regain their form and improve their consistency as they seek a stronger showing in the tournament. Meanwhile, Akari's opponent, the Queenpins, will be without Gabi Bade, who is representing the Philippines in the Gilas 3x3 team at the 2026 Asian Beach Games.