San Juan bested Caloocan Batang Kankaloo, 82-78, in overtime on Wednesday to advance into the North Division Finals against Abra in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Ynares Center Montalban, Rizal Province.
The defending champions Abra Solid North Weavers beat the Pasay Voyagers, 77-69, earlier to sweep their semifinal series.
Michael Calisaan delivered six points, while James Kwekuteye and Royce Alforque also contributed in the extension as the San Juan Knights repeated their 73-71 overtime victory over the Batang Kankaloo on October 24 and swept the best-of-three semifinal series.
Alforque scored on a follow-up, and after a triple by Kymani Ladi put Caloocan to within 78-79, Kwekuteye stripped the ball from Jeff Manday, then blocked Kean Baclaan’s drive in the last two seconds to secure the win.
With San Juan ahead, 70-68, in regulation play, Caloocan got a lease on life after Dom Escobar, who muffed his first free throw with 2.6 seconds left, intentionally missed the second, grabbed the rebound, and canned a jumper to force extra time.
Harold Alarcon, whose jumper with 6.8 seconds to go pushed San Juan ahead, 70-68, was chosen the Best Player with six points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
AC Soberano top-scored for the Knights, the 2019 MPBL champions, with 15, followed by Calisaan with 13 points plus six rebounds; Dexter Maiquez with 10 points; and Kwekuteye with eight points, six rebounds and three steals.
Alarcon said they need to play better in the finals since they will be up against the strong and intact Weavers.
San Juan is likely to miss Terrence Fortea, who was stretchered out with a likely knee injury, in the best-of-five series, while skipper Orlan Wamar is on the watch list following a sprain.
Caloocan drew 21 points, seven rebounds and two assists from Ladi; 17 points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals from Chris Bitoon; 15 points, five assists and three rebounds from Baclaan; and 15 rebounds, nine points, four assists and two steals from Manday.
Showing why he’s the reigning MVP, Dave Ildefonso scored seven of Abra’s last eight points, highlighted by a one-handed slam, to foil Pasay’s final rally.
Abra beat Pasay in Game 1, 81-71.
Ildefonso posted 23 points, eight rebounds and three steals to capture his second straight Best Player honors.
Filipino-American DJ Fenner supported with 12 points, two rebounds and two assists; followed by Tucker Molina, with 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals; and Jake Figueroa, with nine points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Pasay, which crawled to within 67-69 in the last 3:33, got 12 points and four rebounds from Christian Fajarito; and 11 points each from Kriss Gurtiza, Lennard Santiago and Edmund Dela Cruz.
Enjoying height and heft advantage, the Weavers ruled the boards, 45-28, and led by as many as 62-48 to rev up their drive to a second straight North crown.
Abra swept Pangasinan, 3-0, in the 2025 North Finals before the Heatwaves took a leave of absence this year.
Powered by Molina, the Weavers greeted the second quarter with a 10-point cluster to pull away for good, 33-23.