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| Dave Ildefonso delivers at crunch time for the Abra Solid North Weavers. MPBL |
BANGUED—Struggling early on, Dave Ildefonso delivered when it mattered and lifted Abra Solid North to a 59-58 cliffhanger over San Juan on Saturday in the opener of the SportsPlus MPBL 2026 Season North Division Finals at the Gov. Andres Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued, Abra.
Showing why he's the reigning MVP, Ildefonso followed up his own miss with 15.4 seconds left as the defending champion Abra Weavers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Before that, Ildefonso couldn't find his mark and finished with 7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal.
San Juan had a chance, but Harold Alarcon missed his jumper before the final buzzer.
Mike Calisaan had earlier given San Juan the lead with 23 seconds left after cutting the middle and getting open.
Abra looked headed for victory when it surged ahead, 56-49.
The Knights, however, refused to give up and bunched nine points, capped by that Calissan intrusion.
DJ Fenner and Encho Serrano paced the Weavers in scoring with 11 each, followed by Drex Delos Reyes with 8.
San Juan drew 12 points from Calisaan, 11 each from Royce Alforque and Alarcon, and 10 from Reynel Hugnatan,
JD Cagulangan, the 2025 KBL Rookie of the Year who got sidelined by a torn left ACL, made his MPBL debut 7 minutes and 8 seconds into the second quarter.
Alarcon pumped in 8 in a 10-point San Juan cluster that pushed San Juan ahead, 31-26.
Given more playing time due to the absence of the injured Terrence Fortea and the sprain suffered by Orlan Wamar, Alarcon finished the half with 10 points, followed by veteran Hugnatan with 8, highlighted by two open triples.
Game 2 of the best-of-five series will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at the same venue, with Abra seeking a 2-0 lead and San Juan trying to equalize.
