The Meycauayan Marilao Gems sparkled in the last quarter to stun the Gensan Warriors, 88-82, on Friday, Aug. 21, in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Bulacan Capitol Gym in Malolos.
Trailing by 11 points with 7 minutes and 28 seconds left, the Gems dropped a lethal 23-4 bomb, anchored by Jayson Apolonio and JM Dela Virgen, to notch their 12th win against 10 losses and gain traction in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 26-team tournament.
The Gems climbed to fifth place in the North division, moving ahead of the Pasay Voyagers (11-10) in the race for playoff spots.
The Warriors still led, 76-75, but the Gems unloaded three straight triples, one each by Dela Virgen, Apolonio and Jimboy Pasturan, and a floater by Apolonio, against a drive by Gensan’s Hesed Gabo, to secure the comeback victory, 86-78, with 1 minute and 29 seconds to go.
Apolonio posted 21 points and 3 rebounds to snare the SportsPlus best player honors over Pasturan, who collected 18 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
“We needed to step up in the absence of Agem (Miranda),” said Apolonio, referring to the Gems’ leading scorer who served a one-game suspension due to two technical fouls.
Joshua Guiab contributed 12 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds, while Dela Virgen chipped in 9 points, six in the fourth quarter, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
Gensan, which drew 18 points and 6 rebounds from Marwin Dionisio, 11 points and 9 rebounds from RJ Minerva, and 10 points, 5 assists and 2 steals from Hesed Gabo, skidded to 15-5 and dropped to fifth place behind earlier winner Cebu (18-5) in the South division.
Cebu nips Mindoro
Mark Meneses drove in with 19.1 seconds left to lift the Cebu Greats past the Mindoro Tamaraws, 70-69, in the second game.
The Tamaraws had a chance to reverse the outcome, but Bambam Gamalinda’s triple attempt trickled out at the buzzer, pulling them down to 11-10.
Meneses pooled 27 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists to edge Dhon Reverente, with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, for best player honors. Andrei Armenion also shone for the Greats, scoring all of his six points in the last 6 minutes.
Mindoro got 23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists from Jayjay Caspe, 13 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks from Gamalinda, and 10 points plus 3 rebounds from Jayvee Dela Cruz.
Basilan subdues Negros
Basilan Steel leaned on veteran gunner John Wilson to subdue Negros, 97-86, and raise its record to 12-11 in the first game.
Right after a Basilan timeout, Wilson drilled in a triple with 1 minute and 47 seconds left to break Negros’ 13-point run and put the Steel closer to No. 6 Rizal Province (13-7) and No. 7 Mindoro (12-10) in the playoff race.
Wilson notched 28 points, spiked with six triples, 6 rebounds and 2 assists and was chosen the best player over Gab Cometa, who finished with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals, and Toto Villarias, with 14 points and 5 assists.
Negros tumbled to 1-20 despite DJ Howe’s 21 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, Michael Alvarez’s 18 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals, Rev Diputado’s 12 points and 3 assists, and Dignadice’s 10 points plus 4 rebounds.
The tournament returns to the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna on Saturday, featuring games between Valenzuela and Abra at 3 p.m., Ilagan Isabela and Rizal at 5 p.m., and San Juan and Binan at 7 p.m.
