MANILA, Philippines — The Gensan Warriors withstood the Cebu Greats' repeated assaults to prevail, 91-80, and share the lead in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Anton Eusebio poured in nine points and joined forces with Joshua Fontanilla, Kris Porter and Hesed Gabo to power the Warriors to their 10th straight win that put them in a tie with the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 28-team tournament.
The 6-foot-5 Eusebio, a former College of St. Benilde Blazer, posted 15 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists, while Fontanilla finished with 17 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals to clinch the SportsPlus best player honors.
Other Warriors who delivered were Marwin Dionisio, with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, Mark Cruz, with 12 points and 5 assists, and Porter, with 13 points, Adi Santos with 5 points and 14 rebounds, and Gabo with 8 points and 11 assists.
Cebu tumbled to 7-3 despite Mark Meneses' 17 points and 6 rebounds, Brian Heruela's 12 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals, and Paul Desiderio's 10 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.
The Greats led at 56-44, but the Warriors rallied behind Desiderio and Heruela.
The Valenzuela City Darkhorse banked on JR Olegario, Jay Collado and Angelo Obuyes to subdue the Paranaque Patriots, 76-72, in the first game and level their slate at 5-5.
Olegario chalked up 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists, Collado pooled 17 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. and Obuyes notched 16 points and 3 rebounds as the Darkhorse handed the Patriots their 11th straight defeat.
The MPBL returns to the Orion Sports Complex on Saturday, featuring games between Pasay and Quezon City at 4 p.m., San Juan and Basilan at 6 p.m., and Bataan and Rizal at 8 p.m. TMT
