What Happened 

The veteran Hong Kong Eastern squad made the neophytes sweat, but ultimately it was the Abra Weavers that emerged victorious in EASL Tipoff 2026, winning 79-72 at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena in Cebu City.

Buoyed by a loud home crowd in Cebu, the Weavers held steady down the stretch despite the best efforts of Eastern to steal the win.

Hong Kong Eastern still proved to be a formidable foe, as they were able to trim the deficit down to five in the final few minutes of the fourth period. Freddie Ibrahim proved to be a difference maker, as he hit clutch layups and hit timely free-throws to preserve the win.

Ibrahim tied with Import Jaylen Johnson for game high honors, tallying 14 points each. Crowd favorite Dave Ildefonso also contributed nine points before fouling out in the fourth period. Akili Vining led the way for Eastern, notching 26 points to go with 4 rebounds and 8 assists.

What It Means 

For the Weavers, this was more than just a game. They wanted to prove that that they belonged with the other elite squads in the EASL, and thus far, they’ve handled business. Now they look to set their sights on winning a title, as the MPBL Playoffs are looming.

Hong Kong Eastern, on the other hand, have had their own experience with adversity, and are too mature to let one setback derail their season. Look for this veteran team to bounce back with a vengeance, particularly once they have their entire roster available.

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Player of the Game:

DJ Fenner of the Abra Weavers was the head of the snake in a very balanced attack. He finished with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. The Fil-Am standout showed that he’s more than capable of leading a squad in his EASL debut. 

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‍Super Statistic: 40 points in the paint

The Weavers struggled from beyond the arc, so they focused their attack in the shaded area. They attacked relentlessly, which led to a whopping 40 points in the paint compared to only 18 for Eastern. As a result, the Weavers shot 60% from inside the three-point line, which would prove to be the difference maker in a tough match.

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Next Up 

The Weavers will be away from EASL action until December 9, but they will be tested immediately when they face a tough Ryukyu Golden Kings in the Okinawa Suntory Arena in Japan.

Interestingly enough, Hong Kong Eastern will also get their chance to take on the Golden Kings in Japan, as they are set to travel on the road to face Okinawa on November 4, 2026.

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