Camille Naredo

Afril Bernardino in action for New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas against Pangasinan Solar Home in the 2025 Women's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League regular season, September 28, 2025 at the Batangas City Coliseum. Handout/WMPBL

Afril Bernardino in action for New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas against Pangasinan Solar Home in the 2025 Women's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League regular season, September 28, 2025 at the Batangas City Coliseum.

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WMPBL

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759078093535WMPBL 2025 1st Reg Season Pangasinan vs Batangas-BERNARDINO Afril-00553.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Afril Bernardino in action for New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas against Pangasinan Solar Home in the 2025 Women&#x27;s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League regular season, September 28, 2025 at the Batangas City Coliseum. Handout/WMPBL"/>Afril Bernardino in action for New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas against Pangasinan Solar Home in the 2025 Women&#x27;s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League regular season, September 28, 2025 at the Batangas City Coliseum. Handout/WMPBL</div>MANILA -- Afril Bernardino flashed her vintage form to fuel New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas to a 78-56 rout of Pangasinan Solar Home, Sunday at the Batangas City Coliseum.It was the third straight win for the Valkyries in the 2025 Women&#x27;s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League regular season, strengthening their push for a top-two finish. At the moment, they are tied for first with San Juan-DN Steel, with both teams holding identical 7-2 records.Bernardino delivered 30 points on 13-of-17 shooting, adding 11 rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and two steals.&quot;Pangasinan is a well-structured team. They were bound to play well dahil they lost four games. Pero for us, we want to be consistent on the things we&#x27;re doing, especially we&#x27;re down to the last game of the elimination round,&quot; Valkyries head coach Cholo Villanueva said.&quot;It&#x27;s a good thing that everything we did started from defense. That&#x27;s gonna be our identity coming down the stretch ng tournament.&quot;Tied at 37-all in the third period, Khate Castillo caught fire at the perfect moment, scoring 14 points in New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas&#x27; pivotal 16-5 run—highlighted by two inside hits and a triple—creating a 13-point, 55-42 lead over Pangasinan Solar Home.Following Castillo&#x27;s lead, Charmine Torres and Afril Bernardino drained consecutive floaters, giving the Valkyries a commanding 59-44 advantage heading into the final period.A putback by Tin Bariquit, a turnaround jumper from Pringle Fabruada, and a Bernardino triple sealed the victory, extending New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas&#x27; lead to 74-50 with 3:41 remaining.Castillo finished with 16 points, four rebounds, and two assists, while Bariquit added 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting with seven rebounds and one steal.New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas will close its elimination round campaign with a crucial showdown against Tantoy Ferrer and Discovery Rizal next Sunday, October 5, in Pangasinan.Meanwhile, Pangasinan Solar Home dropped its fifth straight game after opening the season 3-1.The Suns now sit in a tie for fourth with Tagaytay-Tol (3-6), facing a must-win scenario against RK Hoops-Quezon City next week to remain in contention for the fourth seed and a coveted twice-to-beat advantage.Gabi Bade was limited to 13 points on 5-of-20 shooting but contributed eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals, while Hazelle Yam added 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting with three assists.<div> </div><div>The Scores:</div>New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas (78) - Bernardino 30, Castillo 16, Bariquit 11, Aquino 5, Torres 5, Penaranda 4, Fabruada 4, Lozada 2, Manzanares 1, Calang 0, Claro 0, Villamor 0.Pangasinan Solar Home (56) - Bade 13, Yam 11, Miranda 10, Sario 9, Abaca 6, Cancio 5, Ordoveza 2, Rodas 0, Medina 0, Larrosa 0, Gonzales 0.Quarterscores: 20-11, 35-31, 59-44, 78-56.

Afril Bernardino flashed her vintage form to fuel New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas to a 78-56 rout of Pangasinan Solar Home, Sunday at the Batangas City Coliseum.

Afril Bernardino flashed her vintage form to fuel New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas to a 78-56 rout of Pangasinan Solar Home, Sunday at the Batangas City Coliseum.

WMPBL: Bernardino torches Pangasinan, leads New Zealand Bluefire to share of lead

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WMPBL: Bernardino torches Pangasinan, leads New Zealand Bluefire to share of lead

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 29, 2025 12:49 AM PHT

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Women's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

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Pangasinan Solar Home

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