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Draft:Abra Weavers

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Abra Weavers
2024 Abra Weavers season
LeagueMPBL
Founded2024; 1 year ago (2024)
HistoryAbra Weavers
2024–present
ArenaUniversity of Abra
(Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium)
LocationAbra
Team colors     
Main sponsorSolid North Partylist
Head coachYong Garcia

The Abra Weavers are a Filipino professional basketball team based in Bangued, Abra. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's North Division. The team plays its home games at Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium, located on the Bangued campus of the University of Abra.

The team began play in the 2024 season alongside the Pangasinan Heatwaves as part of the league's Northern Luzon expansion. The Weavers are currently the lone team based in Cordillera.

History

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Background and establishment

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The Cordillera region as a whole didn't have much history in terms of hosting pro basketball. Their only notable hosting was the 2007 PBA All-Star Weekend, where the main game was hosted at the University of Baguio in Baguio.[1]

On February 2, 2024, La Paz mayor and former representative Joseph Bernos announced on social media that the province of Abra would enter the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League for the 2024 season.[2] On February 20, the team's name was announced as the Abra Weavers.[3] The Weavers are one of two expansion teams that season, the other being the Pangasinan Heatwaves.[4]

First seasons

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Their first game was played on April 6, 2024, where they beat the hosting Pangasinan Heatwaves in a Northern Luzon expansion battle.[5][6] On April 18, there was an incident involving a bodyguard of the team's owner who attacked one of the game officials following the Weavers' loss to the home team Pasay Voyagers at Cuneta Astrodome. The league has since launched an investigation, though the verdict remains undisclosed.[7][8] On June 15, the team played their first home game at the University of Abra, a win against the Rizal Golden Coolers.[9] During their inaugural season, the team acquired the likes of Mac Tallo and Mark Yee,[10][11] the former was later traded away in exchange for Jun Manzo. The Weavers finished their inaugural season 18–10, ranked 7th in the North Division, and thus clinching a playoff berth in their inaugural season. Unfortunately, they would end up getting swept in the division quarterfinals to the eventual back-to-back champion Pampanga Giant Lanterns.[12]

For the 2025 season, the Weavers acquired Encho Serrano from the Pampanga Giant Lanterns as well as Dave Ildefonso, who was left unsigned after getting drafted by the NorthPort Batang Pier.[13][14] The team also signed mutliple college recruits, including CJ Austria and Joshua David from the De La Salle Green Archers, Jack Cruz-Dumont from the UE Red Warriors, and Filipino-foreigner Kascuis Saint-Martin from the Brock Badgers.[15][16]

Team identity

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The name honors the country's weaving tradition, specifically in Northern Luzon. It was chosen as a way to recognize the "undying passion, tenacity, and resilience" of the Agab-abel.[3]

Home venues

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Currently, the Weavers play their home games at Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium, located at the University of Abra's Bangued campus.[9]

Venue Location 2024
University of Abra
Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium
Bangued, Abra Green tickY

Current roster

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Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 0 Escamis, Clint (SGL) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Mapúa
F 1 Bersamina, Blue (HG) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
G 5 Lee, Will Keane (HG) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
G 8 Sumang, Roi 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1990–12–12 UE
G 9 Clemente, John Loyd 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) National-U
11 Asuncion, Dan (HG)
F/C 15 Faundo, Jeepy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 1995–09–21 UST
G/F 17 Sedurifa, Joseph 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1990–09–04 Centro Escolar
F 23 Fabro, Redel 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Olivarez
F/C 25 Bringas, Anthony 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 263 lb (119 kg) 1988–04–27 Far Eastern
F 32 Gonzales, Georell (HG) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
G 33 Desiderio, Paul 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1997–02–02 UP
F 83 Yee, Mark 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1982–01–04 San Sebastian (Cavite)
F 88 Recto, JC (SGL) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Mapúa
F/C 99 Batino, Alfred Ryan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 1997–07–21
F Apolonio, Jayson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) DMMMSU
G/F Austria, CJ 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) De La Salle
G Cruz-Dumont, Jack UE
David, Joshua De La Salle
Ildefonso, Dave Ateneo
G/F Serrano, Encho 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 176 lb (80 kg) 1999–09–18 De La Salle
Small-Martin, Kascius (FF) Brock
Head coach
  • Yong Garcia

Legend
  • (HG) Homegrown
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner
  • (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
  • (RS) Reserve player
  • Injured Injured

Updated as of: February 12, 2025

Notable players

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Abra Weavers notable players
Player Position Tenure Awards All-Star
Roi Sumang 2024–present 1 (2024)

Season-by-season records

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League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record
Season Regular season Playoffs
Division Finish GP W L PCT GB Stage Results
Abra Weavers
2024 North 7th 28 18 10 .643 8 Division quarterfinals lost vs. Pampanga, 0–2
2025 TBA To be determined To be determined
All-time regular season record 28 18 10 .643 1 playoff appearance
All-time playoff record 2 0 2 .000 0 finals appearances
All-time overall record 30 18 12 .600 0 championships

References

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  1. ^ Ramos, Gerry (March 6, 2015). "FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Tim Cone looks back at his most memorable PBA All-Star Game". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 8, 2025. On the lighter side, the 57-year-old coach also vividly remembers the 2007 All-Stars in Baguio for its bizarre ending.
  2. ^ Bernos, Joseph (February 2, 2024). "ABRA REPRESENT!!! MPBL HERE WE COME". Retrieved February 2, 2024 – via Facebook.
  3. ^ a b "We are Abra Weavers !". Abra Weavers. February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Facebook.
  4. ^ "MPBL welcomes unlimited pros, expands with two new franchises". Tiebreaker Times. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  5. ^ "MPBL Sixth Season unwraps Saturday". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "Abra stuns Pangasinan, Zamboanga trips Valenzuela in MPBL inaugurals". Manila Bulletin. April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  7. ^ "MPBL to probe alleged referee-mauling incident in Pasay-Abra game". Spin.ph. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "MPBL to probe punching of a referee by bodyguards of Abra politician". Tempo. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Weavers win for home crowd in MPBL's first game in Abra". Spin.ph. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  10. ^ Villanueva, Ralph Edwin (March 13, 2024). "Tallo signs with new MPBL team Abra". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  11. ^ Terrado, Reuben. "Mark Yee signs with Abra, John Wilson joins Nueva Ecija". Spin.ph. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  12. ^ "Kurt Reyson's last-second heroics lift Pampanga over Abra, secures MPBL North semis spot". Tiebreaker Times. October 17, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  13. ^ Ramos, Gerry (January 24, 2025). "Encho Serrano nixes PBA return to sign with Abra Weavers". Spin.ph. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  14. ^ Ganglani, Naveen (February 7, 2025). "Dave Ildefonso Joins Abra Weavers in MPBL". ALL-STAR. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  15. ^ Ganglani, Naveen (January 23, 2025). "La Salle's David Joins Abra Weavers in MPBL, Eyes PBA Future". ALL-STAR. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  16. ^ Li, Matthew (February 6, 2025). "CJ leaves La Salle, embarks on pro career with Abra". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 7, 2025.