The Meycauayan Marilao Gems sparkled in the last quarter to stun the Gensan Warriors, 88-82, in the SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2026 Season on Friday at the Bulacan Capitol Gym in Malolos.

Trailing by 11 points with 7:28 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 1:29 to go.

Apolonio posted 21 points and three rebounds to snare the SportsPlus Best Player honors over Pasturan, who collected 18 points, three rebounds and three 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, three assists and two rebounds, while Dela Virgen chipped in nine points, six in the fourth quarter, four rebounds and four assists.

Gensan, which drew 18 points and six rebounds from Marwin Dionisio, 11 points and nine rebounds from RJ Minerva, and 10 points, five assists and two steals from Hesed Gabo, skidded to 15-5 and dropped to fifth place behind earlier winner Cebu (18-5) in the South division.

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 two assists to edge Dhon Reverente, with 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists, for Best Player honors. Andrei Armenion also shone for the Greats, scoring all of his six points in the last six minutes.

Mindoro got 23 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists from Jayjay Caspe, 13 points, 12 rebounds, two steals and two blocks from Gamalinda, and 10 points plus three rebounds from Jayvee Dela Cruz.