Sparks One Win Away from No. 1 Seed as They Battle Pasig Queenpin

One victory away from securing the top seed, Akari-Rizal Sparks aim to clinch it when they face the struggling Pasig Queenpin on the final day of the 2026 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) regular season on Sunday at the Alonte Sports Arena.

The Sparks currently lead the standings with an 8-1 record, while Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire sits in second at 7-2. Both teams have already locked up semifinal berths.

A win over Pasig in their 6 p.m. matchup would guarantee Akari-Rizal the No. 1 seed. However, a loss could allow the Valkyries to snatch the top spot if they defeat Caloocan in their 2 p.m. game. Tiebreaker scenarios between Akari-Rizal and Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire are also possible, as the two teams split their season series by identical 16-point margins. As defending champions, Akari-Rizal holds the edge in tiebreakers.

Riding a six-game winning streak and unbeaten in over a month, the Sparks enter the match as the league’s hottest team. They also hold a significant psychological advantage over Pasig, having dominated them 78-60 in their season opener on April 12.

Head coach Derrick Pumaren is treating the game seriously to maintain momentum heading into the playoffs.

“We’re still looking to build momentum heading into the semis. We’re going all out on Sunday against Pasig. Hopefully, we’ll be able to do that and get the win,” said Pumaren.

Akari-Rizal will rely on Allana Lim, who exploded for 29 points in their recent 74-58 victory over the Valkyries. She will be supported by Raiza Palmera-Dy, Janine Pontejos, Mar Prado, and Camille Sambile.

Pasig, locked in the bottom two of the standings, will look to end their regular season on a high note, with Gabi Bade, Lee Sario, and LJ Miranda expected to lead the charge.

In other key games affecting playoff seeding:

- Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire (7-2) faces Caloocan (1-8) at 2 p.m.

- RK Hoops-Quezon City 10ACT (3-6) battles Biñan-Tatak Gel (6-3) at 4 p.m.

Both Biñan and RK Hoops have already secured twice-to-beat advantages in the quarterfinals but will still fight for better positioning and momentum.

A tense triple-header awaits as the regular season concludes, with top-seed battles, tiebreakers, and playoff seeding all on the line.