Warriors Dominate Royals, Share Top Spot in MPBL

The GenSan Warriors turned a close battle into a rout with a commanding third-quarter surge, crushing the Iloilo United Royals 120-68 on Monday at the Pasay Astrodome to stay undefeated in the 2026 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) season.

Trailing by just five points at halftime, 47-42, GenSan exploded in the third period with a 20-0 run—seven points coming from Joshua Fontanilla—to put the game out of reach. The win improved the Warriors to 5-0, tying the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo for first place in the round-robin eliminations.

Hesed Gabo recorded the league’s first triple-double of the season with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, plus two steals. Mark Cruz led all scorers with 23 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, adding two rebounds and two assists.

Fontanilla contributed 13 points, six assists, three rebounds, and two steals, while Eloie Tan added 12 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. JM Versoza posted 10 points and eight boards, and Anton Eusebio chipped in 10 points and five rebounds.

Iloilo fell to 1-4, led by Levi Hernandez with 15 points. Jasper Longalong added 13, and Art Aquino finished with 10 points.

In the nightcap, the Pasay Voyagers rolled past the Imus SV Squad, 109-70, fueled by an electrifying start from Mark Parks. The 6-foot-5 forward scored 21 points in under 14 minutes, sparking a 21-point opening run that set the tone for the Voyagers, who improved to 3-2.

Christian Fajarito added 11 points, while Cyril Gonzales and Steve Nash Enriquez supported effectively. Enriquez directed the offense with 14 assists, alongside eight points, three rebounds, and three steals.

Pasay built an unassailable 84-41 lead early in the fourth quarter, handing Imus its third loss in five games. Jaypee Belencion led all scorers for Imus with 25 points, followed by Ralph Robin with 19.