BENGALURU (India) - Akari salvaged a fifth-place finish in the FIBA Women's Basketball League Asia (WBL Asia) 2026 after rolling past the Indian Railways, 86-56, at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium on Saturday.
Bent on going out with a bang after getting blanked in the Group Phase, the Sparks began to seize control late in the second chapter before breaking away wide in the third toward a triumphant end to their debut run.
The defending WMPBL champions finished the tourney with a 1-2 record overall, and will be returning to the Philippines armed with more experience after competing in their first-ever FIBA club competition.
"I told my players that we have to play with a lot of pride," head coach Derrick Pumaren said. "We just have to come out and get a win in today's game, and the players answered the call. They played well, they played hard."
Bre'Amber Scott finished with 25 points and 6 rebounds, while Saicha Grant-Allen came through with 24 and 11 plus 5 assists as the reinforcements spearheaded the decisive run to finish the second quarter.
Akari held a narrow lead entering the last 4 minutes of the period before Grant-Allen triggered what would become a 13-3 rally - in which she and Scott got some help from Kent Pastrana as well - for a 42-30 lead at the half.
Angel Surada then opened the third canto with an easy bucket and it would be all Sparks since, with Scott and Grant-Allen joining hands to push their lead to 20 for the first time at 53-33 with 6:48 on the clock.
Jhazmin Joson (8 points, 5 assists), Allana Lim (7 points), and Pastrana (5 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists) chipped in significantly for the first Southeast Asian team since the Surabaya Fever in 2024 to play in WBL Asia.
"It was a great experience for us and we will be happy to play again next season," Pumaren said. "It was a great experience for the players. This will help in uplifting women's basketball, especially in the Philippines."
Pushpa Senthil Kumar and Harima Munishkannan had 13 points apiece for the Railways, who finished their first WBL Asia stint winless in 3 games.
FIBA