Sparks outlast Valkyries in overtime, seize 1-0 Finals lead

Akari-Rizal survived a furious comeback by Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire, escaping with a 92-88 overtime victory in Game 1 of the 2026 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) Finals on Wednesday at Hoops Haven in Pasay City to move one win away from the championship.

Top overall draft pick Mar Prado came through in the extra period, splitting a pair of free throws before converting a driving layup that put the Sparks ahead for good, 85-84, with 2:23 left.

Camille Sambile followed with a short jumper to extend Akari-Rizal's lead to three, and after Afril Bernardino answered for the Lady Valkyries, Allana Lim countered with a reverse layup before Sambile calmly sank two free throws to make it 91-86.

Rocel Dionisio kept Batangas-New Zealand within striking distance with a layup with 6.8 seconds remaining, but Prado split her free throws on the next possession to ice the game and give the Sparks a 1-0 edge in the best-of-three championship series.

"I have to give it to the girls. We lost our poise, we became tentative when Batangas started catching up. We threw the basketball away, that's why they came back. But we regained our confidence, we played tough defensively, and I was telling them, when things are not going for us offensively, we gonna make up for it on the other end," said Akari-Rizal head coach Derrick Pumaren.

"We made stops. Camille made big shots in the end. We refused to lose. We did not give up."

The Sparks looked headed for a comfortable victory after building a 21-point cushion in the third quarter before the defending champions mounted a remarkable rally.

Powered by Bernardino, Pringle Fabruada, and MG Calang, the Lady Valkyries erased the deficit and grabbed a 69-62 advantage with 6:48 remaining in regulation.

Akari-Rizal answered with timely baskets from Prado, Sambile, and Lim to stay within striking distance.

After Sambile split her free throws to give the Sparks a 77-76 edge with 36.1 seconds left, Khate Castillo buried a clutch three-pointer from the right corner to restore Batangas-New Zealand's lead, 79-77.

Sambile responded with a game-tying drive on the next possession, while Bernardino missed a chance to win it in regulation, forcing overtime at 79-all.

Raiza Palmera-Dy sparked Akari-Rizal's strong start, scoring 16 of her game-high 20 points in the first half before finishing with 20 overall. Sambile added 19 points and seven rebounds while posting a team-best plus-15 in just under 23 minutes.

Lim contributed 17 points and nine rebounds, Prado finished with 14 points and five boards, while Shemaiah Abatayo orchestrated the offense with 12 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and two steals.

The Sparks will have their first opportunity to clinch the title and dethrone the defending champions when the series resumes with Game 2 on Sunday at Paco Arena in Manila.

Bernardino led the Lady Valkyries with an all-around performance of 23 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, four steals, and four blocks.

Fabruada added 19 points and eight rebounds before fouling out late in the fourth quarter, while Castillo and Calang chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Snow Peñaranda nearly posted a double-double with nine points and 13 rebounds before also fouling out in regulation.