Imus Agimat 89, Sarangani 84 — the Agimat went on the road and came away with a hard-fought five-point win in Philippines MPBL action, closing out a back-and-forth contest that was still undecided inside the final two minutes. In a game where neither side ever led by double digits, Imus leaned on a decisive fourth-quarter run and clutch free-throw shooting to hold off a stubborn Sarangani squad that refused to go away in front of its home crowd.

Match Overview

• Competition: Philippines MPBL
• Final score: Sarangani 84 – 89 Imus Agimat
• Date: September 21, 2026
• Result type: Road win, decided in the final period

Sarangani came out with energy and intent, but the Agimat's ability to answer every momentum swing proved to be the difference. It was a game of runs rather than domination, and Imus simply made more of the big plays when the clock got short.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

The box score tells the story neatly: a tight opening frame, a second-quarter surge that put Imus in front at the break, a Sarangani push that narrowed the gap to three heading into the fourth, and then a frantic final ten minutes that the visitors managed better.

How the Game Unfolded

Sarangani started the brighter of the two sides, attacking the rim early and getting to the free-throw line with regularity. A 22-20 first-quarter edge had the home bench loud and the crowd engaged, with the Agimat still searching for rhythm on the offensive end.

That rhythm arrived in the second period. Imus flipped the game with a well-executed stretch of transition basketball, turning defensive stops into quick points and forcing Sarangani into contested, late-clock possessions. A 25-18 quarter swung the game and sent the Agimat into the halftime break holding a 45-40 lead.

Sarangani answered after the interval. The home side tightened up defensively, closed out on shooters, and clawed back into the game behind a 21-19 third quarter that trimmed the deficit to three at 64-61. Heading into the final period, the momentum and the crowd both belonged to Sarangani.

But the fourth quarter is where Imus showed its composure. The Agimat traded baskets early, then put together the defining run of the night — a burst that pushed the lead back to a comfortable margin and forced Sarangani to play catch-up the rest of the way. Sarangani scored 23 points in the last ten minutes, a respectable output, but Imus answered with 25 of their own to seal it.

Key Moments

• Second-quarter swing: Imus turned a two-point deficit into a five-point halftime lead with the best two-way stretch of the game.
• Third-quarter response: Sarangani's defensive adjustment limited easy looks and pulled the game back within one possession.
• Fourth-quarter separation: The Agimat's decisive run midway through the final period created the cushion that ultimately decided the game.
• Free throws down the stretch: With Sarangani forced to foul, Imus converted at the line to keep the door shut.

Tactical Story

This was a classic MPBL matchup decided in the margins. Imus controlled the glass just enough to limit Sarangani's second-chance opportunities, and the Agimat's half-court execution in the fourth quarter was noticeably sharper than their opponents'. Where Sarangani relied on individual creation and dribble penetration, Imus generated cleaner looks through ball movement and quick reversals, particularly against the home side's late-game pressure.

Sarangani's zone looks caused problems in the third quarter and briefly turned the game into a grind, but the Agimat found answers by attacking the middle of the zone and kicking out to open shooters. On the other end, Sarangani shot well enough to stay in it but struggled to string together stops when it mattered most — a recurring theme in a game where the defensive stops were unevenly distributed.

Standout Performers

For the winning side, the Agimat's backcourt dictated tempo throughout, controlling possession and delivering in crunch time. Their interior presence did the dirty work on the boards and provided a reliable safety valve when Sarangani's defense extended. It was a balanced scoring effort rather than a single-player carry, which is exactly the profile of a team built for a deep MPBL campaign.

Sarangani got productive minutes from its guards, who kept the offense afloat d