Basketball
B-Steel Sports returns to Basilan, promises fresh start following non-payment allegations
Basilan returned to the MPBL for the 2025 season.
With a new backer in Starhorse, led by Jackson Chua, Basilan made a splash by signing high-profile players, including Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Jervy Cruz, and Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
The team also boasted a strong coaching staff, led by Rich Alvarez and Rob Labagala.
The Starhorse-backed squad finished fourth in the South Division with a 29-18 record.
However, as the season progressed, allegations emerged that players and coaches had been left unpaid during the final months of the campaign. Demoralized, Basilan was eliminated in the quarterfinals by General Santos.
B-Steel Sports, the new management of the Basilan franchise, is familiar with the challenges the team faced last year.
“Regarding the status of the franchise before us, I’m not going to talk about them because I’m not allowed to speak for them. But this is a totally different management from last year,” Basilan executive director Matt David told Tiebreaker Times.
“We’re different from before, and now we’re returning because we saw an opening. As you know, there’s only one franchise allowed per province. So when we saw that opening, we decided to come back.”
B-Steel Sports previously managed Basilan during the 2019-20 season. That team advanced to the division finals but had to forfeit the deciding game against Davao Occidental due to COVID-19. The firm also secured a VisMin Super Cup title under Zamboanga Sibugay.
“With the renewed focus on sports, especially now with Steel Sports expanding from Basilan to Zamboanga to Manila, we want more franchises to take root. Especially with the success of Eumir Marcial being one of our athletes, we want a more holistic approach in terms of local representation in sports,” David continued.
“This is a total relaunch because it’s a completely different entity.”
Basilan will be led by Jvee Casio, with Eumir Marcial placed on the reserve list. Other key players include Gjerard Wilson, John Wilson, John Cantimbuhan, Ryan Costelo, Robin Roño, Jayson Grimaldo, Bobby Balucanag, and Tyrone Chan.
The team, coached by Arnold Oliveros, knows it faces a tough campaign, with powerhouses like Abra, San Juan, Caloocan, and Quezon already having a head start in signing top talent from the UAAP.
But the immediate goal is to erase the negative optics of the previous administration. Borrowing from the team’s original tagline, David vows to redefine Basilan.
“What we’re trying to do is reshape the image. We’re bringing back the tagline, Redefining Basilan. We first used it in 2019, and now in 2026, we’re using it again to redefine the image of the province as well as provincial sports.”
The post B-Steel Sports returns to Basilan, promises fresh start following non-payment allegations appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
Basketball
Abra overpowers Meycauayan Marilao to tighten MPBL North race
Abra Solid North handed Meycauayan Marilao a harsh reality check on Friday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the One Arena Cainta in Rizal Province.
The defending champions cruised to a dominant 101-75 victory in the nightcap to improve to 10-1, moving closer to the leaders in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.
Abra remains behind North Division leader Caloocan (11-1) and just ahead of San Juan (9-1) in the race for playoff positioning. In the South Division, Quezon Province leads with an unbeaten 8-0 record, followed by General Santos City at 12-1.
Jake Figueroa paced the Weavers with 12 points, eight rebounds, and two assists, earning Best Player of the Game honors. He received ample support from Shaun Ildefonso, who finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, and Encho Serrano, who added 13 points and three assists. Fil-Am DJ Fenner chipped in nine points and four rebounds.
Mike Ayonayon capped Abra’s dominance with an alley-oop finish off a Nico Elorde pass that stretched the lead to its largest at 88-53 with 5:46 remaining.
The loss snapped Meycauayan Marilao’s five-game winning streak as the Gems dropped to 7-4. Jayson Apolonio led the team with 22 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Agem Miranda scored 14 points.
Jimboy Pasturan contributed 12 points, three rebounds, and four assists, and Shawn Argente added 11 points.
Abra controlled the rebounding battle, 53-32, with 6-foot-8 Drex Delos Reyes grabbing seven boards to help Figueroa and Ildefonso.
In the earlier game, Parañaque leaned on a stellar performance from Marlon Monte to upset Imus, 102-96, and snap a 13-game losing streak.
Monte erupted for a career-high 34 points, including 18 in the pivotal third quarter, while also collecting six rebounds, five assists, and two steals to earn Best Player of the Game honors. Domark Matillano also played a key role with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals.
Samuel Peralta contributed 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Jomar Santos added 12 points, two rebounds, and two assists. Jobert Medina chipped in nine points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Ryusei Koha orchestrated the offense with 11 assists to go along with five points and two steals.
Imus fell to 2-10 despite strong performances from Eroll Soriano, who tallied 24 points and eight rebounds, and Jordan Rios, who posted 21 points, 15 rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Regie Boy Basibas added 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Joseph Mark Marquez recorded 14 points, 15 rebounds, and three assists. Janjan Salazar finished with 13 points, 12 assists, three rebounds, and three steals.
Meanwhile, Marikina was awarded a 20-0 forfeiture victory over Iloilo in the second game, improving to 5-8.
Iloilo dropped to 2-8. Under FIBA rules, the official score for a forfeited game is 20-0.
The MPBL returns to the One Arena Cainta on Saturday with a triple-header featuring Biñan against Zamboanga at 4 p.m., Caloocan versus Mindoro at 6 p.m., and Batangas taking on Negros at 8 p.m.
–//
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Basketball
UCU Lady Canons stun JKL Lady Dolphins with dominant victory

UCU Lady Canons delivered a masterclass performance on Friday, securing a commanding 71-48 victory over the JKL Lady Dolphins in a highly anticipated National Basketball League (NBL) encounter at the Lugogo Indoor Arena.
With the emphatic win, the Lady Canons completed a regular-season double against the defending champions, who are currently chasing their fourth consecutive NBL title.
Despite the setback, the Lady Dolphins enter their final regular-season game still holding onto an impressive overall record, having come into Friday’s matchup on the back of a strong winning streak.
The Lady Canons set the tone early in the match, suffocating their opponents defensively while executing flawlessly on offence.
Sylivia Nakituuka capped off a dominant opening quarter with a brilliant three-point jump shot, giving the Lady Canons a commanding 17-point lead at 24-07.
Things only worsened for the defending champions in the second period. The Lady Canons’ relentless defence restricted the Lady Dolphins to just seven points in the quarter, allowing UCU to head into the long halftime break with a massive 29-point cushion.
The Lady Dolphins managed to find some footing after halftime, matching the Lady Canons 17-17 in a competitive third quarter. However, the damage had already been done, and UCU maintained their comfortable 29-point advantage heading into the final frame.
In the fourth quarter, the Lady Dolphins mounted a spirited late rally to outscore UCU, but the deficit proved far too large to overcome, with the game concluding in a 23-point margin of victory for the Canons.
Sylivia Nakituuka led the charge for the Lady Canons with a game-high 19 points, supported by Sylivia Nantongo, who chipped in 12 points.
The Lady Dolphins’ offence was spearheaded by Tamasha Nsubuga with 16 points and Charity Nantalo with 11 points, alongside contributions from Shadia Nassanga.
The post UCU Lady Canons stun JKL Lady Dolphins with dominant victory appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
Basketball
JKL Lady Dolphins hold off Nabisunsa Girls in vital victory

JKL Lady Dolphins secure a well-deserved 68-57 victory against Nabisunsa Girls in the National Basketball League encounter at YMCA Court on Wednesday.
The Lady Dolphins came into the game seeking a must-win as they take on relegated Nabisunsa Girls.
Ekone Brenda’s 3-point jumpshot concluded the opening period as the Lady Dolphins opened a two-point lead (14-12).
In the second quarter, Nabisunsa were limited to only eight points as the Lady Dolphins took a 13-point lead (33-20) into the long break.
Coming from the long break, the third quarter was tied 16-16, and the Lady Dolphins held onto a 13-point lead going into the final frame.
Nabisunsa Girls tried to return to the game late but their fight was late as they trailed to 11 points on the end of the day.
Tamasha Nsubuga (24 points), Shadia Nasanga (13 points) and Ekone Brenda’s (11 points) led the Dolphins’ scoring chart in double digits.
On the other hand, Keturah Joy Auma (22 points) and Martha Yikuru (12 points and 12 rebounds) reached the double digits for Nabisunsa..
The post JKL Lady Dolphins hold off Nabisunsa Girls in vital victory appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
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