Abra Crushes Ilagan Isabela in Game 1 of MPBL North Quarterfinals
The Abra Solid North Weavers opened their MPBL 2025 North Division quarterfinals campaign with authority, cruising past the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys in a commanding Game 1 victory at the Gov. Andres Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued, Abra.
Leading the charge for the top-seeded Weavers was Mike Ayonayon, who caught fire early and never looked back. Ayonayon drained 12 of his 16 points from beyond the arc and also tallied four assists, setting the tone for Abra’s dominant performance on their home floor.
Ayonayon sparked the Weavers with back-to-back three-pointers right at the start, helping them take control with a 22–11 lead after the opening quarter. Abra then unleashed a blistering 30–9 run in the second period, stretching the gap to 52–20 at halftime — a deficit the Cowboys could never recover from.
The Weavers showed depth and balance all game long. Dave Ildefonso delivered an all-around effort with 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Jolo Mendoza added 13 markers, three assists, and two rebounds, while Jason Brickman filled the stat sheet with 12 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
Off the bench, Encho Serrano provided instant offense, going a perfect 4-of-4 from inside the arc to finish with 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Geo Chiu added 8 markers, 9 boards, and a block — showcasing Abra’s firepower across all positions.
For the Cowboys, Jayboy Solis was the lone bright spot, scoring 18 points to go along with three rebounds and a block in an otherwise tough night for Ilagan Isabela.
With this emphatic win, the Weavers take a 1–0 lead in their best-of-three quarterfinal series and move just one win away from advancing to the North Division semifinals.
Game 2 is set for Saturday, October 18, at the Caloocan Sports Complex, where the Cowboys will look to keep their season alive.
The Scores:
Abra 98 – Ayonayon 16, Ildefonso 13, Mendoza 13, Brickman 12, Serrano 11, Gonzales 8, Chiu 8, Uduba 4, Austria 4, Fabro 3, Bation 2, Lee 2, Yee 2, Gonzales 0, Taywan 0
Isabela – Solis 18, Tumalip 9, Pingoy 6, Marcos 5, Bautista 5, Miranda 3, Santos 3, Buraga 3, Gumaru 2, Arenal 2, Olegario 2, Adorio 0, Ramirez 0.
Quarter Scores: 22-11, 52-20, 83-37, 98-58.
