Gerry Abadiano knocked in two free throws with 10.99 seconds left to lift the San Juan Knights past the Gensan Warriors, 81-79, and a share of top spot in the SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2026 Season on Thursday at the STRIKE Gymnasium in Bacoor, Cavite.

The tiebreakers, which became possible because Reyland Torres poured in 10 points for the Knights in the fourth quarter, shattered the last deadlock at 79 when Mark Cruz drove in with 29.6 seconds left and enabled San Juan to join Abra Solid North at the helm of the two-division, 27-team tournament.

The Knights and the Abra Weavers both have 13-1 records in the North division, towing the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo (14-2) and the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys, who climbed to 11-6 following an 80-76 victory over the Bataan Risers in the second game.

Torres finished with 13 points and four rebounds and was chosen the SportsPlus Best Player over Dexter Maiquez, who had 16 points and nine rebounds, and Michael Calisaan, with 12 points and four rebounds.

“I challenged myself to do well,” said Torres, a former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroon like Abadiano. “We were able to overcome the physicality of Gensan.”

The Korean Basketball League-bound Abadiano wound up with nine points, two rebounds and two assists, followed by Orlan Wamar, with nine points, seven assists and four rebounds as San Juan survived without Michael Phillips, who played for Gilas Pilipinas in its recent losses to New Zealand and powerhouse Australia in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Gensan had two chances to reverse the outcome, but Cruz and Val Acuna missed their triple tries in the dying seconds and failed to prevent the Warriors’ fall from first to joint third in the South division.