MANILA, Philippines — The Batangas City Tanduay Athletics quelled the Gensan Warriors' final assault and prevailed, 76-73, to clinch the No. 4 playoff spot in the South Division of the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Batangas City finished the round-robin elimination phase with a 19-6 record, tying Cebu. The Greats, however, took third place due to their 84-83 shocker over the Athletics on April 22.
Gensan slid to 18-6 and needs to beat also-ran Bulacan in its last assignment on Sept. 21 to forge a triple-tie. Even then, however, the Warriors would have to settle for the fifth spot due to their loss to the Athletics.
Ahead 60-49 early in the fourth quarter, Batangas City felt pressure as Gensan closed in at 71-75, with 41.3 seconds left, through Marwin Dionisio and RJ Minerva.
Batangas' worries grew after Ced Ablaza missed two free throws with 12.5 seconds left and Gensan's Joshua Fontanilla canned a one-hander to put the count at 73-75, with 6.6 seconds to go.
In the ensuing play, Fontanilla was forced to foul Ino Comboy, who missed the first but converted his second charity for the final tally.
Ablaza tallied 17 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists; Rhinwil Yambing carded 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals; Comboy notched 11 points and 2 rebounds; Abdul Sawat contributed 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists; and Jeckster Apinan compiled 4 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists.
Gensan drew 16 points and 7 rebounds from Minerva; 13 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists from Fontanilla, and 11 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists from Dionisio.
Bulacan edges Marikina
The Bulacan Kuyas bested the Marikina Shoemasters, 84-77, in the first game to raise their record to 6-18.
The Kuyas drew 20 points and 5 rebounds from Andrei Acop, 18 points, 13 rebounds and 2 assists from Mico Dizon, 14 points and 2 rebounds from Benedict Benedictos, and 12 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals from Joshua Moralejo.
Marikina, which ended its campaign with a 17-8 slate, got 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals from homegrown Jomel Landayan, 15 points and 2 rebounds from RR Casajeros, and 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists from JR Alabanza.
The 2026 SportsPlus MPBL All-Star game between the North division standouts and the South division stalwarts will push through at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Ynares Center Montalban in Rizal province. TMT
