Sparks Blaze Past Lady Kankaloo for Early Share of Top Spot

Akari made a powerful statement to start the season, dominating Caloocan, 100-65, to claim a share of the lead in the 2026 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) on Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Sparks wasted no time asserting control, with Shemiah Abatayo, Raiza Palmera-Dy, Allana Lim, and Mar Prado leading the charge as Akari dictated the game from start to finish. This dominant performance pushed them to a 2-0 record, tying them with Biñan-Tatak Gel for the top spot in the standings.

Akari head coach Derrick Pumaren expressed satisfaction with his team’s focused approach, particularly in handling a Caloocan squad that had been struggling.

"I’m happy with my players' mindset. We didn’t take Caloocan lightly; we didn’t go easy on them. We played hard and came out ready to compete," Pumaren said.

He further emphasized that the team’s goal was to prevent Caloocan from building any early momentum.

“That was the key. We had to come out strong and not give them any confidence. We wanted to take that away from them right from the start,” Pumaren added.

Abatayo led Akari with a stellar 19 points, including five three-pointers, along with eight assists and two steals in an all-around display. Palmera-Dy supported with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding five assists and two rebounds.

Lim provided a spark off the bench, contributing 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Prado added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Akari quickly took control of the game, surging to a 27-10 lead in the first quarter and never letting up. The advantage reached as high as 45 points, 85-40, late in the third quarter after a Lim layup with 35 seconds left.

For Caloocan, Janine Pontejos struggled with her shooting, finishing with 15 points on 2-of-9 shooting, but made 10 of 12 free throws, alongside eight turnovers.

Sofia Felisarta chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds, while Joan Camagong contributed 11 points as the Lady Kankaloo suffered their third consecutive loss to open the tournament.