Tuesday’s game MPBL between the San Juan Knights and Caloocan Batang Kankaloo was technically a playoff game, but it was still just preseason play. Even so, it looked and felt bigger than what it actually was, as it had the intensity of two heavyweights going right at each other for the grandest of prizes.
That was the case because, truth be told, the Knights and Batang Kankaloo are MPBL heavyweights, transforming into powerhouses after signing some of the best collegiate players in local hoops. San Juan scooped up former UP Fighting Maroons Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Terrence Fortuna, and Reyland Torres—who formed part of the so-called Maroon 5 in Katipunan alongside Janjan Felicilda. Caloocan, meanwhile, acquired Kean Baclaan of the La Salle Green Archers, Kymani Ladi and Dom Escobar of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, and Jielo Razon of the TNT Tropang 5G in the PBA.
Last season, Caloocan and San Juan were among the final eight teams left standing after making it to the Division Semifinals—a feat that underscored their standing as two of the MPBL’s better teams. This season, with souped-up lineups, the Knights and Batang Kankaloo are again expected to do well, or even win it all.
Knights Nip Batang Kankaloo in Tense Battle
The Knights leaned on late-game poise from two of their new recruits, Abadiano and Alarcon, to pull off a gritty 68–66 come-from-behind win over the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo in the knockout semifinals of the 2026 MPBL on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Facing a 57–64 deficit late in the contest, the Knights found life behind their backcourt duo. Abadiano delivered six points in the closing stretch, highlighted by a clutch three-point play that ultimately sealed the game, while Alarcon added five of his own to fuel the decisive rally. The win sends San Juan to a sudden-death showdown against the Abra Solid North Weavers on Thursday at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan.
Alarcon led the charge with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Abadiano added 11 points—including 8 in the fourth quarter. Michael Calisaan, a former PBA player, finished with 7 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
Baclaan had 9 points for Caloocan, which looked headed for a blowout win after roaring to a 28–11 start. But San Juan chipped away at that advantage and grabbed the lead, 66–65, after Alarcon calmly sank two free throws in the final moments. Caloocan briefly regained the advantage behind two free throws from Escobar, but Abadiano answered in emphatic fashion, slicing through two defenders for a tough basket plus a foul with 13.9 seconds remaining.
A Gigantic Clash Seems Inevitable
With all that talent up and down their rosters, it seems inevitable that the San Juan Knights and Caloocan Batang Kankaloo will again make the playoffs this upcoming Season 8 of the MPBL. In fact, it would not be a stretch to believe these two heavyweights are headed for a gigantic clash with bigger stakes and a larger platform—maybe even the Division Finals.
If and when that happens, the MPBL and local hoops fans would be big winners for sure.
